Health board officials have voiced concern over the Minister for Health's plan to ban smoking in the workplace, fearing it would place staff in psychiatric hospitals at greater risk of violence from patients, writes Carl O'Brien
Health and safety representatives in Dublin's five main teaching hospitals say a range of exemptions on the smoking ban should be considered in psychiatric units, residential units, nursing homes and detoxification units.
The Eastern Health Shared Services, which is linked to the Eastern Regional Health Authority, along with the Psychiatric Nurses' Association, have also expressed unease over the impact of the ban on the behaviour of patients in residential and psychiatric care settings.
The reservations are embarrassing for Mr Martin, who is relying on the support of health agencies for the smoking ban in the face of major opposition by the hospitality industry.
The views of health professionals have emerged as part of a wide-ranging consultation process involving the Health and Safety Authority over the planned ban, which is due to come into force on January 1st, 2004.
The Irish Prison Service has also warned that the ban poses "serious behavioural and operational difficulties" and has called for the ban to be implemented on a phased basis.
It said availability of cigarettes was generally accepted as a "calming measure" for people deprived of their freedom and the withdrawal of tobacco products could lead to disruptive behaviour in the prison system. The Prison Officers' Association, however, has refused to accept any dilution of the ban which, it says, will protect the health of prison staff.
There have traditionally been high levels of smoking in prisons, where up to 85 per cent of the male population and 100 per cent of the female population smoke.
Smoking levels are also high in psychiatric hospitals, where an estimated 3,000 patients are cared for.
The Psychiatric Nurses' Association warned that assaults will "substantially increase" if the "all-out ban" goes ahead. The PNA's industrial officer, Mr Séamus Murphy, said some alternative to an all-out ban had to be found.
Cigarettes used to be handed out to long-stay patients in some psychiatric hospitals and a major tobacco firm yesterday confirmed that at least one health board is still buying cigarettes directly from the company.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health declined to comment on the matter as it was an issue for individual health boards.