Lighting up at Grand River Hospital just got a little more difficult.
Effective Tuesday, the hospital’s entire property, indoors and outdoors, is smoke-free.
For smokers, that means heading to sidewalks near the property in order to light and smoke a cigarette.
The hospital had previously sent smokers to a shelter at the side of the property to light up, but that shelter was demolished early Tuesday morning.
Hospital officials say they hope forcing smokers onto the sidewalk will help reduce the overall harm of tobacco in the community.
Hospital president Malcolm Maxwell says he’s heard a mixed reaction to the policy.
“There are some people who say they don’t want to walk to the sidewalk and smoke … but I had three (smokers) who said this is a hospital and we’re doing what we should do,” he tells CTV.
“It’s been more positive than negative.”
According to Health Canada, more than 37,000 Canadians die annually due to smoking.
The smoke-free policy also affects the hospital’s Freeport site. Removal of smoking shelters at the two locations cost $6,000.
Maxwell says 40 Grand River Hospital staff members are taking part in a nicotine replacement program.
