Jump to full article: Tamworth (NSW) Northern Daily Leader (au), 2009-06-19
Author: REBECCA BELT
Intro: BANKSIA patients, desperate to evade a Hunter New England Health smoking ban, are smuggling cigarettes into the mental health unit using body cavities and their underwear.
Hunter New England Health has confirmed it has recently “renewed” efforts to ensure a smoke- free policy dating back to October, 2006, is “consistently implemented across all shifts”.
The impact of the heightened restrictions was first flagged late last month when Deirdre Christian, whose son suffers from a mental illness, told The Leader patients might be dissuaded from seeking treatment at Banksia because of the ban. . . .
The staff member said the smoking ban was an ineffective smoke screen that had actually been
counterproductive.
A Tamworth mental health worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the smoking ban had resulted in aggravation for the patients.
This, in turn, led to an increased incidence of abuse, assaults and threats to nursing staff.
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