Is There A Link Between Violence in Hospital A & E Departments and Smoking?
The only Hospital A & E Department, I’ve been to in the last six or seven years or so, is Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge. Mostly, I was there because of stroke-related problem, but once because of C and once because I had a fishbone stuck in my throat.
The A & E Department at Addenbrooke’s has a great advantage over many others in the UK, in that it is some distance from the city centre, so it probably doesn’t get too many of the walk-in drunks, that litter up many other hospitals.
In all my visits, I’ve never seen any problems between patients and staff, but this would not seem to be the norm throughout the rest of the UK.
Smoking is banned in all hospitals, so could it be that the stress of an ill patient, is worsened, by not being able to light up. So they go outside for a quick fix and then when they get back in they’ve missed their place in the queue.
More research needs to be done.
The efforts of the Design Council to redesign A & E Departments may help and is to be welcomed.
The Anonymous Widower 
As an ex-smoker, I can assure you that smoking does not relieve stress. It is often claimed by smokers that it does, but research has shown the very opposite is true. Nicotine does not lower stress levels.
Comment by John Wright | November 16, 2011 |
Nicotine may not reduce stress. but I’ve known enough smokers, who got very stressed because they couldn’t have a fag.
It’s one f these double negative things.
Nicotine doesn’t reduce stress, but lack of nicotine causes stress.
Comment by AnonW | November 16, 2011 |