The North Bay Regional Health Centre is a tobacco-free facility starting today.
This means when you come to the Health Centre as an inpatient, outpatient or visitor there is no smoking or vaping anywhere on the property. For any inpatients, this means all tobacco products should be left at home. Staff, physicians, visitors, and outpatients cannot even have tobacco products visible while on any NBRHC property.
All existing designated smoking areas will be closed, including the one at the Main West entrance by the highway.
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act dictates any outdoor designated smoking areas must be removed by the end of this year.
It may seem extreme, but under the Act, if you smoke on hospital properties you could be fined up to $5,000 and the hospital could be fined up to $300,000.
Tobacco: refers to tobacco, in any processed or unprocessed form, that may be smoked, ingested inhaled, or chewed. Tobacco or tobacco-related products and/or devices include:
- all electronic and/or water vapour cigarettes and devices
- marijuana cigarettes/vapour
- any other product or device that simulate the act of smoking (with the exception of approved smoking cessation medications, such as the nicotine replacement therapy inhaler).
The restriction on smoking or holding lighted tobacco on the outdoor grounds of a public hospital, a private hospital or a psychiatric facility does not apply to tobacco used for traditional Aboriginal cultural or spiritual purposes.
Learn more here.
