Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) are the first in Wales to launch a PA system discouraging smokers from lighting up outside their hospitals.

From today, it is hoped that their new public address system - nicknamed ‘Push the Button’ - will curb smoking activity across their acute hospital sites.

The red buttons are publically accessible and can be found near main entrances at Bronglais, Glangwili, Prince Philip and Withybush hospitals.

The scheme will be launched at an event in Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, by chief executive Steve Moore. Guests at the launch will include the Wolfscastle School children who recorded the bilingual messages, smoking cessation service staff, staff involved in implementing the scheme, Pembrokeshire County Councillors and senior managers.

Teresa Owen, director of public health for Hywel Dda UHB, explained: “We’re very proud that since July 2012 all University Health Board sites have been formally designated as smoke-free but, while the majority of staff, patients and visitors to our sites respect this policy, some people continue to smoke on-site.

“Our smoke-free policy covers all premises and grounds and applies to all members of the public, patients (except for those residing in residential mental health units who are exempt under the Smoke Free Premises (etc.) Wales Regulations 2007), visitors, staff and contractors.

“The audio system enables onlookers to anonymously push a red button which will trigger a PA message that reminds smokers that it is a smoke-free site and asks them to extinguish their cigarette.

“Everyone has the right to breathe fresh air, especially when visiting a health care facility and we regularly receive complaints about people smoking on our sites.

“We understand that visiting a hospital can sometimes be a stressful experience, but we expect smokers to adhere to our smoke-free policy and they should anticipate being asked to leave our hospital sites if they wish to continue smoking.”

The University Health Board’s policy also includes the use of e-cigarettes in response to concerns about the safety and potentially harmful emissions of e-cigarettes and that their use may undermine efforts to de-normalise the act of smoking.

If you would like support to quit smoking, visit Hywel Dda University Health Board’s iQuit website: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/862/page/77333 to find a service that suits you.