..

...Click to go to our homepage Click for the Site Index Click for the site search facility Click for help Click to contact us Click for accessibility information



 
Buying Club
Discounts on surgery & home insurance
Best prices on stationery & office supplies
Best prices on medical supplies & pharmaceuticals
Discounts on electrical testing
Discounts on payroll services
Discounts on medical equipment testing & calibration
Toys and activity furniture for waiting and consulting
Discounts on e-learning courses

 
Features
Software Showcase - introducing software of interest to Practice Managers

 
Latest news
What's new on the website and email bulletin archive
Our regular summary of key news for Practice Managers
Hot topics - England
Hot topics - N. Ireland
Hot topics - Scotland
Hot topics - Wales

 
Links
Link to BBC News/Health
A list of relevant publications for Practice Managers
A list of useful websites for Practice Managers

Index for this section

Sign up for FREE email bulletins

Information on a wide range of topics
Directory of providers of training
Information about a career in practice management and career development
Practice Manager vacancies and Practice Managers available
Results of our annual survey of Practice Manager salaries
Results of our annual survey of Staff salaries
Information about our daily email discussion forum
Directory of providers of products and services for general practice

Log into the Members section
Information about what's in the Members section
How to subscribe to the Members section
Log into the Protocols Library
Log into the HR/employment law section
Log into the Job descriptions library
Log into the Health & Safety section
Log into the Buying Club
Log into the toolkits
Log into the Mentor scheme for newly appointed Practice Managers


 

 

 

Smoking in public places and workplaces

Scotland | Wales | N. Ireland | England

Scotland

Smoking is not allowed in the majority of enclosed public places in Scotland, including surgery premises. The ban applies to everyone (i.e. staff and patients).

Failure to comply with the law is a criminal offence - smokers can be fined £50, and the person responsible for the premises can be fined £200. It is also an offence to fail to display the proper 'no smoking' signs.

Practice action

Practices are required to display No Smoking signs and should have a Smoking Policy. There is a draft Smoking (Staff) Policy and a draft Smoking (Patients & Public) Policy in the Members Library. If you are not a Member, click here for information about the benefits of membership and how to subscribe.

More information: Scottish Executive guidance on the no smoking legislation (including downloadable posters to display in the workplace) - go there

Advice for staff who visit homes where there are smokers

Link won't open?

Wales

A ban on smoking in public places and workplaces came into effect on 2nd April 2007. To conform to the legislation, Practices must display a sign at or near each entrance which must:

  • Be at least 160mm x 230mm
  • Display a 'No Smoking' Symbol
  • Contain the bi-lingual statement:
    'Mae ysmygu yn y fangre hon yn erbyn y gyfraith'
    'It is against the law to smoke in these premises'

Practice action

Practices are required to display No Smoking signs and should have a Smoking Policy. There is a draft Smoking (Staff) Policy and a draft Smoking (Patients & Public) Policy in the Members Library. If you are not a Member, click here for information about the benefits of membership and how to subscribe.

More information including details of the required location and size of signs, plus downloadable signs: smokingbanwales

Advice for staff who visit homes where there are smokers

N. Ireland

A ban on smoking in public places and workplaces came into effect on 30th April 2007.

More information including details of the required location and size of signs, plus downloadable signs: Space to Breathe

Practice action

Practices are required to display No Smoking signs and should have a Smoking Policy. There is a draft Smoking (Staff) Policy and a draft Smoking (Patients & Public) Policy in the Members Library. If you are not a Member, click here for information about the benefits of membership and how to subscribe.

Advice for staff who visit homes where there are smokers

England

A total ban on smoking in all enclosed or substantially enclosed* workplaces and public places came into force at 6am on 1st July 2007. The legislation also covers vehicles which are used for business purposes by more than one person. Places which are not covered by the smokefree legislation are private homes, residential care homes, hospitals, prisons and hotel bedrooms.

*An enclosed place is defined as having a ceiling or roof and, apart from windows and doors, has walls or sides enclosing it. A substantially enclosed place is defined as having a ceiling or roof, and walls or sides that enclose more than 50% of it.

There are three new offences:

  • smoking in no-smoking premises
  • permitting people to smoke in no-smoking premises
  • failing to display the required non-smoking signs

Employers are responsible for notifying all employees of the new regulations, and must display the proper "no-smoking" signs.

Authorised officers of local councils will enforce the new smokefree law. Employers who do not display the required signs at all entrances to their in premises or in vehicles face a £200 fixed penalty or a fine up to £1000; those who fail to prevent smoking can face fines of up to £2500. Persons who smoke in no-smoking premises or vehicles face a fixed penalty of £50 or a fine up to £200.

Employers are not required to provide external shelters for smokers.

More information including details of the required location and size of signs, plus downloadable signs in multiple languages: Smokefree England

Practice action

Practices are required to display No Smoking signs and should have a Smoking Policy. There is a draft Smoking (Staff) Policy and a draft Smoking (Patients & Public) Policy in the Members Library. If you are not a Member, click here for information about the benefits of membership and how to subscribe.

Advice for staff who visit homes where there are smokers

Link won't open?