Peninsula Health has been a smoke-free site for 12 years and we are dedicated to supporting patients at any stage of their quit journey.
We are committed to providing a smoke-free environment for staff, patients, visitors and carers.
Our smoke-free policy prohibits smoking or carrying of ignited cigarettes, cigars or pipes at any of our sites. This includes all car parks, grounds, buildings and vehicles.
During September, we are promoting our smoke-free initiates and encouraging smokers to give up the habit.
Despite recent progress in reducing smoking rates in Victoria, tobacco remains the leading avoidable cause of cancer and a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, killing more than 4,000 Victorians every year.
Peninsula Health Anaesthetist Dr Ashley Webb completed research on mailed nicotine replacement therapy and Quitline support.
Peninsula Health Anaesthetist Dr Ashley Webb is passionate about encouraging people to quit smoking, stemming from a deeply personal experience.
His father’s smoking history began when he was a teenager experimenting with cigarettes, and ultimately ended when he died from throat cancer at the age of 52.
“Tobacco has impacted too many families, and this experience motivated me to research smoking behaviours in the hope that more people quit, saving lives and improving health,” Dr Webb said.
His latest research study, Offering mailed nicotine replacement therapy and Quitline support before elective surgery: a randomised controlled trial, was published in the Medical Journal of Australia in April and found that quitting was greatly increased when smoking cessation assistance was offered as part of routine pre-surgical care.
Dr Webb said Peninsula health was leading the way in encouraging smokers to quit through initiatives like this.
“My aim is to be able to offer this as part of our standard care practices,” he said.
“It would be nice if kids could just learn about smoking by reading about it in history books.”
For assistance in quitting smoking, visit the Quit website