Health professionals play an important role in smoking cessation. Supporting patients to manage nicotine dependence and cease smoking or vaping is an activity for the whole health care system and should be integrated into as many settings as possible, including hospitals, health services and community settings.
NSW Health has mandated the NSW Smoke-free Health Care Policy to emphasise the important role of the health care sector in reducing the risks to health associated with tobacco and e-cigarette use (smoking and vaping) by clients, staff and visitors to NSW Health facilities; and limit the community's exposure to second-hand smoke and vape aerosol. All NSW Health buildings, grounds and vehicles are smoke-free and vape-free (smoke-free). this means that smoking of tobacco products, using vaping products or non-tobacco smoking products is banned.
The policy also mandates that all clients/patients to NSW health facilities are asked about their smoking or vaping status and those who smoke and/or vape are supported to manage their nicotine dependence while in hospital or at discharge.
The following guidelines and resources will assist health professionals to confidently provide evidence-based management of nicotine dependence and smoking cessation for their clients/patients.