Blog: Suffocating under hospital rules and regulations
Wednesday 16th March 2011, 8:21AM GMT.
Blog: I know the world has to be structured, but who said there has to be quite so many rules? I’m into my fourth week in hospital and counting . . . and I think its plunging me prematurely into Grumpy Old Woman syndrome, writes Emma Suddaby.
I realise a large institution has to have systems set in place to keep the whole thing running smoothly, but sometimes the rules just seem plain old pedantic. Whatever happened to using one’s discretion?
I’ve spent much of the past four weeks sitting out in the freezing-cold Arctic weather, smoking swift and almost joyless cigarettes, missing my dogs like crazy because dogs are no longer allowed on hospital grounds for a visit, and going cold turkey on my twin-pot pudding addiction because patients’ food can only stay in the fridge for 24 hours before it’s considered out of date and thrown away. I could go on, but you get the gist.
It’s not always the hospital’s fault, mostly they’re just abiding by rules created by higher powers. But after a while the endless regulation becomes slightly suffocating.
Take the taboo subject of smoking, all over the news again as the Government talks of taking cigarettes under the counter, banning shops from displaying them and proposing to package all tobacco products in plain paper – pointless moves that will, in my mind, only add to the edgy glamour so many teens feel they get from smoking in the first place.
Now clearly, smoking is not something a hospital can condone, fair enough. But again, banning it entirely is like banning the sunrise – it’s going to happen whether you like it or not and no amount of bans will make the slightest bit of difference.
Someone was telling me how it upsets her to see patients standing outside with their drip-stands, shivering in dressing-gowns while they smoke. And it struck me anew how selfish that attitude is . . . and how naïve. How could a passing stranger hope to understand what’s going on in that person’s life, what reasons they have for smoking, what health crisis has landed them in hospital, and how it will end?
One thing I do know, from long experience, is that golden five minutes, standing outside in the sun, watching the world go by and smoking a rare cigarette, is the miracle in that patient’s day. Afterwards, it’s back to bed on a hot and stuffy ward with nothing to look forward to but crosswords and blood tests.
Medics and nursing staff at the hospital have been wonderful to me, as always; they’re practically extended family now. But no matter how they try to make me comfortable, there’s no getting away from the fact that I’m in hospital and there’s no place like home – a completely unsterile environment with smoking allowed throughout, sofas covered in dog fur and waggy tails, and a fridge full of sticky toffee snacking delight.
Meanwhile, my nightmares find me finally arriving home to find my bungalow cordoned off with neon, health and safety alert tape, swarming with scary figures in biological warfare suits using breathing apparatus to protect them from my dangerously comfortable home . . . . does this mean I’m getting institutionalised?
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Oh my goodness, silly women. Stop smoking. It sounds like you have a gripe cos you can’t simply spark up in your bed in a hospital.
Yeah it is like the sunrise, it is going to happen – but surely you realise how stupid this blog sounds? Surely?
CJ
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Well as an ex smoker, I must say the picture on the pack of a guy with throat cancer did nothing at all compared to the new idea of plain packaging that would frighten me to death, who ever thought of that one needs a knighthood.
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No the picture on the packet did nothing to deter me from smoking, my first electric bill in my new home seems to have had the desired affect though, smoke free for 14 days!
The wonders of storage heating!
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I like a drink, but I don’t believe hospitals have ever been known for their convivial bar scene.
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Oh poor you.
Why anyone wants to smoke for what is 5 minutes of pleasure is beyond me and to harp about passing strangers not knowing what is going on in that persons life, well everyone has something going on in there lifes, from the very ups to the very downs, puffing on toxic fag wont change anything, its just another poor excuse, fag goes out problems still exist, its not a magic wand.
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even more reasons not to allow it as a passive, passing stranger.
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011/03/16/severn-hospice-sees-rise-in-lung-cancer-patients/
So no they cant turn a blind eye just for poor you.
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To be honest the attention-seeking drivel you have written here Emma Suddaby hardly warrants a response, but for fact that you question the public’s negative response to smokers continuing to smoke outside hospital whilst being cared for by the NHS. Your comments I find both insulting and insensitive to those of us who live with long-term life-limiting respiratory disease (from birth) and not caused in any way by smoking.
I hope you don’t get paid for this drivel.
I also spend a good deal of my life in hospital and on home intravenous antibiotics to fight against recurrent chest infections, but when in hospital I want and expect to be treated in sterile environment at a place that maintains a high standard of hygienee, starting with a non-smoking entrance.
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I’m with you Emma, and well done for being brave enough to say what you think about this on here – hope you’ve got your flame-suit on ;) Ignore the joyless finger-waggers!
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Yes well done Emma for being so brave to ‘light up’ in the face of adversity!. You are the perpetual person who has a continual moan at everything.
Well if you were in a bed next to me stinking of your chemical drug induced addiction I would have you moved. I appreciate you have issues with your health and I truly wish you all the best, but given your health concerns, why do you make it possibly worse for yourself and causing yet more unecessary burden on the NHS by smoking.
Shame on you.
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8/10 for trying to hide yor gripe about not being able to smoke around the generalism of rules and regulations.
But 2/10 for a sound argument because you cannot defend smoking as an excuse because something else which may be happening in one’s life. Otherwise people would be standing outside drinking pints, eating cake etc etc.
Wouldn’t it be simpler to give up? As an ex-smoker myself your tastebuds would be reinvigorated, and surely to taste strawberries instead of nicotine would be a greater pleasure.
Smoking is bad for you, fact! and to smoke in or around a hospital is bad form.
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Your comments as an attempt to defend people smoking outside hospital entrances are both insensitive and insulting to those of us who live and struggle to stay alive with life-limiting respiratory disease (from birth, not through stupidity).
It’s a kick in the teeth for us and for the NHS who look after people like you and the smokers who show a total disregard towards other patients. It sickens me that my tax pays for their treatment resulting from illness through smoking..
Your comments are ridiculous and provocative – shame on you.
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i gave up smoking at long last it has taken me five long drawn out attempts but finally i made it, no i do not think we should be able to smoke outside of hospitals but it dose happen and the nurses and doctors who are telling us to stop are standing in the bus stop along side the patients puffing away as if their very lives depended on it,
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i dont know about anyone else but suspect its true for most but i took up smoking at 15 and never stopped then because of what friends might think the pictures on packs now are very upsetting and when my 5 year old grand son saw one he said ; nanny stop smoking because i dont want you to get a bad neck and die like the man on your fags that was enough for me what will it take for you to quit
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Have you ever thought smoking could be a contributory factor to prolonging you stay in hospital?
Think of yourself and others.
But then if you can afford £7.00 a packet you can possibly afford private health care.
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This has to be a wind up! No one is that stupid surely.
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Have some will power woman,kick this disgusting habit for good.
Think of you’re health otherwise you may suffer further ill health as a direct result of smoking.
You can get free help to quit from you’re GP,it’s got to be worth a try.
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I’m beginning to question whether ‘Emma’ is real or an attempt by the Shropshire Star to get people wound up. A few of her blogs have been so controversial they are teetering on the verge of insanity. Blogging is fine but I think Emma needs to redirect more of her ‘talent’ (I use the word loosely). Come in Ms Suddaby – your time is up.
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I’m so angry with this ridiculous blog.
When I was last pregnant I had to endure a lengthy stay in hospital, due to complications beyond my control.
I too would have liked to have been able to spend a “golden 5 minutes” away from the ward in the sunshine. But was impossible to find anywhere to sit in the grounds without having to inhale second hand smoke.
If I had my way smoking would be totally banned on hospital sites. This isn’t selfish or naive, but people wanting to protect their health shouldn’t be forced to inhale someone else toxic fumes!
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Nothing like a good smoking blog to get the no smoking fascists on their high horses..
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And your point is?
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Why is the SS printing this blog? And why is this woman writing it?
Maybe a better approach would be for the hospital to round up all the patients that want to smoke and move them to their own off-site ward where smoking, and maybe pets, are permitted.
Then leave them unattended until they figure out that they are in hospoital to get better and popping out for a crafty fag isn’t the be all and end all.
Remarkably, I’m with OJ on this – I too like an occasional adult beverage but would not expect my desire to be accomodated while in hospital.
Get over yourself Emma.
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This has to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever read in the Star!
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During a recent stay in hospital too would loved to have escaped the confines of a stuffy hospital and bathe myself in the winter sun. Could I?, no!. The reason – insensitive smokers occupying any available space and the smell if tobacco everywhere. You should be ashamed of yourself and this blog Emma.
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The current smoking policy is vindictive and unneccessarily cruel.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of starting smoking, about a sixth of us do – and if you are addicted when you arrive in hospital you shoud be supported not tortured – heroin addicts get methadone in hospital to prevent withdrawal
Acute withdrawal causes physical and mental effects that interfere with the delivery of care and make medical management more complex – it shouldn’t be beyond the wit of man to build sheltered smoking areas with adequate ventilation for those that feel the need
And while I have never sm,0oked, if I had the substantial health problems as a young adult that Emma clearly faces, I too might put a bit of pleasure now ahead of the long term risks (and the data suggests that those wjhos top aged 35 or less suffer little harm)
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Smoking in or around hospital grounds is indefensible, it is not a place to condone smoking or encourage it.
As for pleasure and smoking in the same sentence, that is totally absurd and has no correlation whatsoever.
Smoking makes your clothes smell, your breath smell, your house smell with you wondering why you don’t get many visitors! No-one wants to passive smoke at family or friends, believe me.
Finally you are financially better off and your health will improve thus not potentially using valuable NHS resources. A win, win situation.
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Good blog, Emma. Ooh, how the self righteous squeal! In your position, I’d probably take up smoking again too. The problem with so many of the comments here is that their authors take everything for granted without for one moment having the slightest idea of how very fortunate they are to have choices and hospitals, and rights, and all of the other associated priviliges of living in a stable democratic society which provides for its citizens. If only they could know the flip side of the coin, they might be very much more appreciative, tolerant and less quick to jump on a soapbox. So many venues of all types, create problems by imagining that if they don’t provide smoking facilities, then people won’t smoke (Doh!) Alternatively, they provide ridiculously sited shelters which smokers don’t use (again, doh!) It’s no different to the planners who build right angled paths which people then walk diagonally between because it’s quicker. All that’s required is just a little bit of common sense and it wouldn’t be an issue, but there’s precious little of that to be found in the UK today (stand still, that soapbox!) Keep your chin up lass, keep blogging and I hope you’re able to get home soon.
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suffocating??? that’ll be the effects of smoking surely?
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Good blog Emma,
A shame to see people attributing sentiments to your article that were never expressed therein. I enjoyed the piece.
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