NHS Lanarkshire gardens get new smoke-free signs

The signals were created by the health board's Quit Your Way team, in conjunction with the Green Health Partnership and Clydesdale Community Initiatives (CCI).

They were placed at the gardens of five hospital sites: Kirklands, Coathill, Airbles Road, Udston, and Hairmyres.

Aiming to ensure patients, staff, and visitors can enjoy a relaxed smoke-free environment, it is also hoped that bees and other garden wildlife will return to these areas.

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Andy Logan, CCI volunteer, said: “Smoking affected my health and when I was out working with CCI I was out of breath quickly.

“When I was in hospital, I was referred to Sharon, the stop smoking nurse, where I was prescribed patches but I wasn’t ready to quit smoking then. It took me a few attempts with the service to quit and I quit smoking for good one year ago.

“Sharon was really supportive and if I felt down I could phone her and she would reassure me, my patches and lozenges were delivered every week and I’d put my patch on every morning. I used to smoke because I thought I needed it when I was stressed but once I stopped the patches and lozenges I kept going with support from Sharon and I’ve not looked back.

“Since I’ve quit I’ve noticed my fitness has improved and the gardening with CCI is easier now too, I didn’t think I’d be able to stop especially when I was at home myself.

“I’ve volunteered with CCI for nine years, before I didn’t know anything about gardening but I’ve done loads of different things like planting trees, chopping willow brushes, growing veg and weeding, it all helps with my mental health. I’ve got people to talk with in the group and I just got my strimmer and bush cutting license after a two-day course.

“Putting the smoke-free signs up around the hospitals with other patients was a good experience, if I can do it others can too.”