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| Smoking shelter call at Morriston Hospital in Swansea | Smoking shelter call at Morriston Hospital in Swansea |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A health watchdog has called for a "smokers' shelter" at a hospital where a patient with broken legs discharged himself early so he could light up. | A health watchdog has called for a "smokers' shelter" at a hospital where a patient with broken legs discharged himself early so he could light up. |
| The community health council in Swansea heard that the man, a 40-a-day-smoker, was admitted to Morristo Hospital after a motorbike crash. | |
| The hospital has a strict no-smoking policy in its grounds as well as on wards and he left two days early. | The hospital has a strict no-smoking policy in its grounds as well as on wards and he left two days early. |
| But a hospital spokeswoman said there were no plans for a smoker's shelter. | But a hospital spokeswoman said there were no plans for a smoker's shelter. |
| Brendan Campbell, a member of Abertawe Bro Morgannwg (ABM) Community Health Council, said the man's case was an example of how patients with a craving to smoke were discharging themselves "days early" to smoke at home. | |
| He said: "I know of one patient who discharged himself two days before his treatment was finished and another who walked out the day before he was due for discharge. | He said: "I know of one patient who discharged himself two days before his treatment was finished and another who walked out the day before he was due for discharge. |
| "One was being treated for broken legs after a motorbike accident and another had MRSA from a leg injury. | |
| "They were heavy smokers on 40 a day and were expected to go cold turkey right away - it's so stressful and unfair for them." | "They were heavy smokers on 40 a day and were expected to go cold turkey right away - it's so stressful and unfair for them." |
| He added: "We have got to recognise that smoking is an addiction and to be in hospital for days without a smoke can be very stressful." | He added: "We have got to recognise that smoking is an addiction and to be in hospital for days without a smoke can be very stressful." |
| A Morriston Hospital spokeswoman said: "We have a no-smoking policy for the grounds." | A Morriston Hospital spokeswoman said: "We have a no-smoking policy for the grounds." |
| Meanwhile, from the beginning of May, smoking has been banned outside hospital entrances in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. | Meanwhile, from the beginning of May, smoking has been banned outside hospital entrances in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. |
| Patients and staff will only be allowed to smoke in certain areas until a complete ban takes effect in November. | Patients and staff will only be allowed to smoke in certain areas until a complete ban takes effect in November. |