Rationale

Smokers have more admissions and longer hospital stays than non smokers. In recognition of this and the difficulties imposed by the NSW Department of Health (DOH) 1999 Smoke Free Workplace Policy, NSW DOH launched “The Guide for the Management of Nicotine Dependent Inpatients”. Evidence suggests that successful adoption of the Guide requires multi-faceted implementation strategies and organisational change strategies.

Aims and objectives

The aim of this project is to increase staff provision of smoking cessation care to patients

The objectives of the project are:

• To work with The Maitland Hospital to determine the roles, responsibilities and accountabilities for the provision of smoking care within the hospital.
• To support the organisation and staff to undertake these roles and responsibilities on a sustainable basis.

Overview of service

We will work with The Maitland Hospital to ensure all smoking patients are provided with care in line with “the Guide”, specifically:

• Identify every smoker.
• Advise every smoker to quit.
• Offer strategies for managing smoking during hospital stay e.g. offering Nictone Replacement Therapy if patient is Nicotine Dependent (smoke >10 cigarettes per day).
• On discharge refer patient to the Quitline and provide Nicotine Replacemetn Therapy.

This work will build on the organisational change strategies undertaken since the project began in 2003, with an emphasis on consensus building around roles, responsibilities and lines of accountabilities for the provision of Management of Nicotine Dependant Inpatients care and on identifying and providing support required to deliver these on a sustainable basis.