As civil servants throughout Northern Ireland head back to work today to completely smoke-free offices, the BMA is again calling for this public health benefit to be extended to all workers here. Doctors are applauding the NI Civil Service's decision to ban smoking in its offices throughout the country from 1st January 2005 but believe that all employees should enjoy the same health rights and be able to work in a safe, tobacco smoke-free environment.
The BMA's NI Council Chairman, Dr Brian Patterson, says that Government here should not delay any longer in introducing a ban on smoking in enclosed public places. "For each two weeks we put off this decision we allow yet another person to die. This is not acceptable and is morally wrong when it could easily be prevented.
"The Health Minister, Angela Smith MP, has recognised that there is incontrovertible evidence that passive smoking kills but still continues to delay in putting an end to this situation. We do not need further consultation, the time for action is now.
"Workers in smoke-filled atmospheres are constantly at risk. Doctors see the deadly results every day of patients who are subjected to second-hand tobacco smoke - heart disease, cancer and respiratory problems. Employees need to be protected and the Department of Health has a duty to ensure this protection.
"There is a groundswell of opinion in Northern Ireland - through the voluntary sector, political parties, healthcare organisations, health boards and trusts - that the only way to prevent people having to suffer breathing in other people's tobacco smoke in public places is to ban it. We urge her to delay no longer and introduce legislation now."