Smoking shelters for hardworking people
Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 10:56 I was on BBC Radio Sussex this morning.
According to a local news agency, 'An ambulance trust where every employee is banned from smoking is splashing out NHS cash on shelters for those staff who can't beat the craving for a cigarette.'
Naturally I supported the trust's decision which demonstrates a welcome pragmatism, not to mention a caring attitude to members of staff who choose to smoke during their breaks.
What disturbs me is that SECAmb had to act because of complaints about staff smoking in "public view".
It is really that offensive?
For goodness sake. Have those complaining got nothing better to do than snitch on hardworking people (as George Osborne might say)?
As for the "angry soon-to-retire paramedic", the sooner he (or she) retires the better. I wouldn't want someone like that looking after me following an accident!
Simon Clark
I was interviewed on Radio Sussex by Jeni Barnett who is standing in for the regular presenter.
A couple of years ago Jeni interviewed me for BBC London. She's an ex-smoker and we had a bit of a ding-dong.
I accused her of being "patronising" and "middle class" in her attitude to smoking. She claimed (in a very plummy voice!) that she was far from being middle class.
As I was faded out I heard her tell listeners, "Well, I won that argument."
Today she could not have been nicer or more friendly. In fact she finished the interview by saying, "Forest are very lucky to have you."
I think I've found my soulmate.
Reader Comments (2)
I'm always suspicious about the mention of 'complaints' from the public and colleagues in these circumstances - have they really received any? To be brutally frank I think they're lying to get what they want. In my experience people are more tolerant that we suppose.
Can one then safely assume there are no expenditures on other things that not everyone avails themselves of?