A Bendigo man has expressed frustration at smokers flouting smoking ban laws around the Bendigo hospital.
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Eric Lakey, who visits the hospital for work each week, said he often sees people smoking by entrances to the hospital.
Smoking laws prohibit smoking within four metres of an entrance to any public hospital or registered community health centre in Victoria.
Public hospitals and registered community health centres may also have non-smoking policies in place – in addition to the statewide legislative ban – that further limit smoking in their outdoor areas.
“(I have seen) two women and a man standing near the main entrance (in Barnard Street) puffing away furiously,” he said.
“There are (no smoking) signs everywhere. One of these signs is a large ‘sandwich board’, which was laying flat on the ground and one of these individuals was actually standing on top of it whilst puffing away.”
Mr Lakey said he informed security of the smokers but by the time security got there, they had left.
A Bendigo Health spokesperson said the Bendigo Health precinct is bound by Barnard, Lucan, Bayne, Stewart, Drought and Hope streets and the entire precinct is smoke free.
Other Bendigo Health sites are also smoke free.
“On the Bendigo Health campus it is the obligation of security staff to monitor smoking,” the spokesperson said.
“Bendigo Health endorses the Department of Health and Human Services’ policy that smoking is banned within four metres of an entrance to public hospitals in Victoria.
“Further to this, smoking is prohibited within all Bendigo Health grounds and there is signage to this effect throughout the precinct.”
While Bendigo Health’s security staff monitor any breaches in smoking laws, venue occupiers are not be expected to enforce the ban and are not empowered to do so.
Compliance with the smoking ban is expected to occur through a public awareness campaign and changed community expectations.
City of Greater Bendigo safe and healthy environments manager Caroline Grylls said council also patrols specific areas where smoking is banned.
“If Council receives a complaint that a business is not complying with the legislation then we will investigate the matter,” she said.
“Usually education is all that is required to ensure the business complies in the future.
It is rare for Council to issue an infringement related to the Tobacco Act. An intent of the new legislation is to minimise exposure to second hand smoke and our objective is to educate business proprietors and the community about their rights and obligations.”