Frequently asked questions

Who are WISH?
Is this campaign just for female inpatients?
What are the Smoke-free (Exemptions and Vehicles) Regulations 2007?
Other patients aren’t allowed to smoke inside hospital buildings, or sometimes even on hospital grounds – why should it be different for mental health inpatients?
What are the Smoke-free NHS guidelines?
Don’t the Smoke-free NHS guidelines advise the provision of outdoor smoking areas?
What about the effects of second-hand smoke on non-smoking staff and patients?
Why should psychiatric hospitals be treated as people's homes under the Smoke-free Regulations?
Why should patients be allowed to smoke in hospital when they aren’t allowed to drink alcohol or take illicit drugs?
Isn’t this just encouraging mental health inpatients to carry on smoking?

Who are WISH?
WISH (Women in Secure Hospitals) was set up in 1991 to address the appalling and often degrading conditions faced by women in the three High Secure (Special) Hospitals of Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton. The organisation was set up by women for women, and remains a user-led organisation today with a membership of around 200 women who have experience of the secure hospital and prison system and 100 allies. Now WISH has two offices; one in Liverpool serving the Midlands, North and Wales, and another in London serving the South and East. We offer gender specific advocacy, befriending and support to women on their journey through the secure hospital and prison system out into the community, and campaign on the issues that are important to our members.

Is this campaign just for female inpatients?
Absolutely not. WISH is a charity run by women for women, but we recognise that the smoking restrictions will affect every single inpatient regardless of gender. We have chosen to campaign on this because our members have told us that it's an extremely important issue for them, and because no other national organisation has so far done much to oppose the restrictions.

The answers to the other questions will be posted shortly. If you have a question about the campaign that isn't answered here, please get in touch.

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