Clwyd West MS Darren Millar is concerned at the number of people who are still smoking on hospital grounds in Wales and has asked what the Welsh Government is doing to enforce the ban it introduced two years ago.  

Smoke-free legislation making it illegal to smoke on hospital grounds came into force in Wales on March 1st 2021.

However, speaking in today’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Darren expressed concern that the ban is not being enforced and called for a statement from the Health Minister on progress towards eliminating smoking on hospital grounds in Wales.

He said:

“As you know, my party fully supported the Welsh Government's introduction of the ban on smoking in hospital grounds; that was the right thing to do. But I'm afraid that, all too frequently, people are still smoking outside our hospital front doors.

“It is appalling practice. It sends absolutely the wrong messages, and our health boards are not doing enough to make sure that they are stamping this problem out once and for all, by issuing fines or taking other enforcement action as appropriate.

“So I'd be grateful for an update from the Minister.”

In her response the Trefnydd, Lesley Griffith MS, passed the buck to Health Boards. 

She said:

"The issue you raise is down to the health boards to manage.

“I know, certainly in my own constituency, at the Maelor, where the main entrance is you have a complete collection of stubs. I have to say, the health board have been dealing with that, and I'm sure it's the same in your constituency, but, of course, it's down to people as well. It's not the health boards that put those stubs there, it's people, and it's really important that patients understand, and their relatives, and their visitors, that our hospitals in Wales are smoke-free.” 

Watch Darren’s contribution in the Welsh Parliament below: