Southern District Health Board staff plan to ban smoking in mental health wards, upsetting a board member who says it needs to be approved by the board first.
In light of the High Court decision this month upholding Waitemata District Health Board's smoking ban in psychiatric wards, SDHB staff plan to implement a total smoke-free policy.
The issue is controversial in mental health services because some patients are not permitted to leave hospital grounds.
The health board is mostly smoke-free, with exemptions for locked-in patients.
Asked if the decision needed to go to the board, mental health medical director Dr James Knight indicated through a spokeswoman it did not.
''The DHB's smoke-free implementation is an operational issue that has been considered by the executive and senior leadership teams, and work is now under way in preparation for it to be carried out.
''In line with our commitment to provide a healthy environment for patients, staff and visitors, we will be working through the best way to implement a smoke-free environment over the coming months, while ensuring patients who are smokers have access to appropriate support,'' Dr Knight said.
Three years ago, staff tried to stop locked-in patients from smoking in a pilot scheme at Wakari Hospital that was halted. An application to the board soon afterwards to ban smoking throughout mental health wards was turned down.
Board member Richard Thomson, an opponent of banning smoking for patients who cannot leave wards, said yesterday his view remained it was akin to forced treatment.
It was not about what ''one can legally do and get away with''. It was a moral issue.
''In my view, we require informed consent before we do any other kind of clinical procedure on anyone.''
He did not agree the policy could be implemented without board approval.
''The board had a previous resolution ... if they wish to change that board resolution, I would expect it to be changed by the board.''
He was not aware the matter was being progressed until contacted by the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
''The executive does not have the right to override a previous board decision.''
