Letters to the Editor

Glad smokers were caught on camera

SIR - To comment on your article that nothing is being done to police the smoking ban at Bradford Royal Infirmary, (T&A, March 17) I would suggest that those staff who bravely confront those who choose to blatantly ignore the policy and the large 'no smoking' notices, would argue otherwise.

Like many of my colleagues, I am fed up of being verbally abused, ignored and looked at as if I have two heads, several times daily, by these people who have no consideration for the health and wellbeing of others.

I deal with scores of complaints from patients and members of the public about having to walk through clouds of cigarette smoke, and the state of the entrance where people have flicked their cigarette ash and stamped their cigarettes out on the floor - I wonder if they do this at home?

The entrance is cleaned thoroughly every day and additionally as required, especially in the wet weather when dirt is brought into the entrance, by everyone who walks through the doors.

In addition, there is the constant blast of freezing cold air that circulates the main entrance and corridor caused by those hovering between the two sets of doors, causing a draught through the reception area and into my office.

This and the smell of cigarette smoke infiltrating the office, does not promote a pleasant working environment.

In defence of the staff at the Infirmary, we come to work to do our jobs well, help people wherever we can, and support our Trust's policies, but should not have to put up with a tirade of verbal abuse day in, day out, when we politely ask people not to smoke and to support the no smoking policy - it's just not worth it.

It's not a case of not getting the message across; more a case of trying our best just to be abused and ignored.

Unfortunately there are some people who will only ever do what they want and I for one am pleased they have been caught on camera. However, I doubt they will feel ashamed by their notoriety.

Gillian Waudby, Ventnor Close, Gomersal

T&A vendetta

SIR - We don't need police cameras - the T&A photographers will do the job.

I have been a T&A reader for more than 40 years but I was disgusted by the front page (T&A, March 17) showing pictures of people having a legal cigarette in the open air as though they were criminals

I expect to see news on the front page not a vendetta against smokers. Did the T&A get the permission of the people who were shown, for them to be plastered all over the front page with that headline? I doubt it. Years ago we had the pillory and the stocks, today we have the T&A.

As at least 25 per cent of the population enjoy a smoke for various reasons, surely it would have been common sense to have a designated area for smokers, in the open air if needs be, without CCTV cameras and T&A photographers snooping on them. Just for the record I stopped smoking some time ago. This letter is mainly about your right to ridicule people who are doing nothing illegal.

Louis Uttley, Pasture Road, Baildon

Difficult to police

SIR - With your main story today, you ask, rather naively I think, why people are still smoking in the grounds of the BRI.

I should say it is because smokers, obeying the ban inside the building, think it quite ludicrous not to be able to smoke in the grounds and I feel the police will not have the manpower to stamp it out.

Foolish laws will be ignored and are difficult to police. This does not excuse the discarding of tab ends everywhere but for people objecting to have to walk past smokers outside the hospital is pitiful.

P E Bird, Nab Wood Terrace, Shipley

Putting the boot in

SIR - Re the story of smokers outside the BRI (T&A, March 17. All I can say is when you start a witch hunt you really go for it!

Does anyone really think that by allowing it the hospital is somehow approving smoking?

Does anyone really think that because they can't smoke outside the BRI it's going to stop people smoking anywhere else?

Does anyone really think there is a passive smoking issue outside in the fresh air?

Admittedly, as smokers, we have lost and will have to accept the will of the majority, but - especially as in this particular case (outside) - it cannot affect others who don't partake and is just a nasty, vindictive, unnecessary way of putting the boot in to people who are not perceived as "good" and perfect as those that know best.

What really is a disgrace is that ordinary people, smokers or non-smokers, who have paid tax, national insurance and council taxes along with the patients they are visiting, have to pay to park in a hospital at all.

C R Meeke, Albert Avenue, Idle

PC gone mad

SIR - Give smokers a break. Was it really necessary to treat the rule-breakers at the BRI like common criminals by showing their faces on the front page (T&A, March 17) thereby revealing their identities for all to see?

May I remind the T&A that it is not illegal to smoke in public in our free and democratic country. Even next year, when the law changes, smoking in the open air won't be a criminal offence.

This is a fine example of the PC brigade gone mad. To introduce unworkable rules like these is a dangerous step too far. It would be much safer to have designated areas in the open air within the grounds where staff, patients and visitors alike know they can smoke.

These new rules, along with your heavy-handed reporting, are creating an environment where smokers will be tempted to sneak a crafty fag in the linen cupboard, or some other out-of-the-way dangerous area.

I dread to think of the consequences. But then again it's not until disaster strikes that the rules get rewritten. Will the T&A then admit to being at the front, leading the charge that drove these people underground?

Danny Moorhouse, Brownroyd Hill Road, Wibsey

Time for action

SIR - Regarding the front page headlines (T&A, March 17) and the flouting of the smoking ban at the entrance to the BRI, leadership is about action, not position.

So now is the time for the head of Bradford Teaching Hospitals to step forward and do your duty. Stand on the steps yourself and tell the smokers who you are.

The staff will be right behind you, in fact they will be so far behind you, they may not be seen.

Gary Lorriman, North Walk, Harden

l Editor's note: We didn't impose the ban, the hospital trust did. We merely responded to complaints from readers about the practice continuing. It's our job as a newspaper to expose rule-breaking of all kinds without fear or favour and these people, along with many others, were all smoking in a public place with a sign telling them not to just a few feet away. It is in the public interest to show how these rules are being flouted. We do not need permission to take pictures of people in a public place and our photographers did not "hide in bushes" but did their job in full public view. I think the letter, above, from a hospital worker clearly explains why our coverage was necessary.

A ban too far...

SIR - The smoking ban at the BRI has in my own opinion gone too far.

I can well understand a ban inside the building, after all it is a hospital, but to ban smoking outside has been taken to absolute extremes.

I do not smoke myself but even smokers have some sort of right to a drag outside.

I can't see what the problem is with people smoking outside. The BRI is surrounded by very busy main roads. I suggest these health-conscious hospital officials who are obsessed with smoking look at the amount of pollution coming from passing cars.

That is far worse than any smokers, they are the least of anyone's worries.

R Halliday, Crag Road, Shipley