We share clean air – Easy Read Leaflet

• what does smokefree mean
• why the Trust is smokefree
• what smokefree means for patients, carers, staff and visitors
• what smokefree means if you use services in the community
• what smokefree means if you are admitted to hospital
• electronic cigarettes
• smoking and your health
• support you can get to stop smoking
• hard words

The hospital is smokefree.

This means smoking is not allowed in any areas inside and outside of the hospital.

If you smoke at the hospital you will be asked to stop by staff.

Smoking causes health problems and you have a bigger risk of dying at a younger age.

We want to help patients and staff to improve their health.

We want to make our hospitals healthier places to be for everyone.

If you come to stay in hospital please do not bring tobacco or lighters with you. If you do bring
them you will need to give them to staff. Any lighters or matches will
be destroyed.

Smoking cigarettes or tobacco is not allowed in any buildings, areas or grounds used by the hospital.

This means patients, carers, staff and visitors must not smoke on the
hospital grounds or inside the hospital.

Smoke from tobacco and cigarettes damages your health.

You can help us protect our staff by not smoking when staff come to visit
you at home.

If NHS staff come to see you at home there must be a smokefree area where you can meet.

NHS staff or your GP can give you information about where you can get
help to stop smoking.

You can contact your local stop smoking service for support.

If you come to stay in hospital please do not bring cigarettes, tobacco
or lighters with you.

If you are in hospital the NHS can give you nicotine replacement products to
help with the cravings for a cigarette.

Nicotine replacement products may be patches, gum, lozenges and inhalators.

CNTW have staff who are specially
trained to support you. A member of
the QUIT Team will visit you to talk to you about how they can help you if you are tempted to smoke.

If you take certain medications your doctor or pharmacist will talk to you about going smokefree to make sure you stay well.

E-cigs might not be completely safe but they are much less harmful than smoking.

E-cigs can be used on Trust sites in certain areas. Speak to a member of staff about where these areas are.

Some services don’t allow e-cigs for safety reasons. E-cigs can’t be used if you are under 18 years old.

E-cigs are not a medicine, so the Trust can’t prescribe them, but you can bring your own to hospital.

If you bring your own e-cig to hospital, staff will need to check it first before you can use it.

When you are admitted to hospital you will be given an e-cigratette if you do not have your own. Replacement cartridges can be bought at the hospital shop.

Smoking is very bad for our health and can cause health problems like
heart attacks, stroke and cancers.

When you stop smoking your body starts to get better straight away.

Your lungs start to work better and you can breathe more easily.

The harmful chemicals in smoke start to leave your body and you will
have less chance of getting illnesses caused by smoking.

Stopping smoking will also save you money. People who smoke 20 cigarettes
every day will save about £2500 if they stop smoking.

Talk to staff who are looking after you. Staff in hospital will be able to
help you to stop smoking.

You can also get help in the community.

If you live in Newcastle
CGL – Newcastle Stop Smoking Service
Tel: 0191 269 1103

If you live in North Tyneside
North Tyneside Stop Smoking Service
Tel: 0191 643 7171

If you live in Northumberland
Northumberland Stop Smoking Service
Tel: 01670 813 135

If you live in Sunderland
Live Life Well Sunderland
Tel: 0191 567 1057

If you live in South Tyneside
Change4Life South Tyneside
Tel: 0191 424 7300

If you live in Gateshead
Gateshead Live Well Service
Tel: 0191 433 3058

If you live in Cumbria
Cumbria County Council
Text: pharmacy stop then your postcode to 80011

Carbon monoxide
One of the bad chemicals in your body because of smoking.

Nicotine
The chemical in tobacco that makes it hard to stop smoking.

Nicotine replacement
A way that your body can get some nicotine without you smoking.

Smokefree
You will not be allowed to smoke.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs)
Another way that you can get nicotine
without smoking.

The text used in this leaflet is adapted from material kindly provided by the Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tells us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

Ths information can be made available in a range of formats on request (e.g. Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other lanuguages). Pleas contact the Patient Information Centre Tel: 0191 246 7288.

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2024 Copyright, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Ref, PIC/741/0424 April 2024 V7
www.cntw.nhs.uk
Tel: 0191 246 7288
Review date 2026