Sally Ohlsen Research assistant / Senior Occupational Therapist, School of Health Related Research (ScHARR), The University of Sheffield
Claire Paul Healthy Living Services Manager & Senior Occupational Therapist, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Abstract
Forty-two percent of all the tobacco smoked in this country is by people with mental health problems. NICE Public Health Guidance (2013) sets out a framework requiring mental health services to become completely smoke-free across all sites, and the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health (2016) recommends all inpatient services should be smoke free by 2018.
Implementation of smoke-free environments is a key priority for NHS Mental Health Trusts. Four Trusts in Yorkshire and the Humber, working with partners at the Universities of York, Sheffield and Nottingham undertook a survey of clinical and non-clinical staff about ‘Going Smoke-Free’. The survey aimed to ascertain smoking status and enable staff to share their views and reservations about smoke-free mental health services, and ideas on how to successfully deliver smoke-free mental health environments. Over 4,000 staff responded. The survey used Qualtrics software, and thematic analysis of free text responses was undertaken. The findings have provided each Trust with local information to support planning, along with a base line for evaluation purposes.
This presentation outlines key findings from the survey. These will be discussed in relation to the implementation and evaluation of totally smoke-free mental health service provision and policies in participating Trusts.
Source of funding: This study is funded by NIHR CLAHRC Yorkshire and Humber and participating Trusts.
