Patients, staff and visitors to Burton’s Queen’s Hospital are being encouraged to bin their cigarette litter as part of an awareness campaign on site this month.

Officers from the Council’s Enforcement team are working with the hospital to spend time around the building’s main entrances raising awareness of the consequences of dropping litter – including a £75 fine.

Councillor Liz Staples, Deputy Leader for Partnerships and Youth engagement, who initiated the campaign after complaining to the Council about the amount of litter around the hospital grounds, said: “Obviously people can’t smoke inside the hospital and whilst we would encourage people to consider not smoking, we appreciate some do want to smoke and have to go into the grounds to do it.

“However, we would ask that people think about the way they dispose of their litter, whether cigarette related or otherwise, and put it in the bins provided.”

The team are being joined by representatives from the South Staffordshire PCT Smokefree team who will be giving out advice and information on quitting smoking, plus the Council’s Wardens and Senior Waste Promotions Officer.

Helen Ashley, Acting Chief Executive at Queen’s Hospital, said: “We are delighted to be able to work with our partners from East Staffordshire council and South Staffordshire PCT in promoting both the anti-litter and no smoking campaigns.  This joint initiative is part of our on-going drive to encourage people to think seriously about the consequences of their actions, to themselves, other people and the environment.”

The campaign began on November 17th and the first day was considered a great success by the partners who attended.

“We received some very positive feedback,” said Enforcement Officer, Louise Kemplay.

“We spoke to hundreds of people throughout the day from staff to patients and visitors and told them about the aim of the initiative to encourage them to dispose of their cigarette ends in the bins provided and not dispose of them on the hospital grounds or surrounding areas or they could receive a £75 Fixed Penalty Notice.

“In support, we gave out 150 ‘Stubby’ portable ash-trays, for people to carry round and use where bins aren’t provided.”

The team will be back on patrol at the hospital on Wednesday, November 25th and Thursday, December 3rd between 3.00pm and 8.00pm.

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