No smoking or vaping for patients and visitors

No smoking or vaping for patients and visitors

We have a no smoking, no vaping policy that applies to all patients, visitors and staff. Whether you are coming to us for a clinic appointment or a hospital stay, you must not smoke or vape anywhere inside our buildings or on our grounds.

It is routine for our staff to ask all patients if they smoke and to offer you options to help you be smokefree during your stay. If you let us know, we can provide clean nicotine products on the wards (e.g. patches, lozenges or gum). 

We can also refer you to quit smoking organisations. 

Did you know that smoking can slow down your healing? Being in hospital with access to recommended clean nicotine products and smokefree support may be a good time to start quitting altogether.

We have support to help get you smokefree.

Vaping is not permitted

While vaping can help smokers to stop smoking and carries less risk than smoking cigarettes, it is not risk free.

The exact nature of the liquid products used in vaping is often unknown and is currently unregulated in New Zealand. Vapour will often drift into a space that is shared with other people.

Vaping products are intended for smokers only and the best thing smokers can do for their health is to quit smoking for good.

Consensus statement

This consensus statement has been agreed by the Ministry of Health and the Health Promotion Agency with input from a New Zealand expert advisory group:

• The best thing you can do for your health is to be smokefree and vape free.
• Vaping is not for children or young people.
• Vaping can help some people quit smoking.
• Vaping is not harmless but is much less harmful than smoking.
• Vaping is not for non-smokers.

For more information please visit vapingfacts.health.nz