BMA urges NI health minister to ban workplace smoking

The Northern Ireland civil service has banned smoking in its offices and the BMA wants it extended to all workplaces in the province

The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for all workplaces to be smoke-free in Northern Ireland, after civil servants were banned from smoking at work.

From 1 January the Northern Ireland Civil Service has forbidden smoking in its offices throughout the country.

The BMA has called on the Northern Ireland government to ban smoking in all enclosed public places.

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Dr Brian Patterson, the BMA’s Northern Ireland council chairman, said the Northern Ireland health minister, Angela Smith, was delaying a ban and said there was no need for further consultations on the subject.

“Workers in smoke-filled atmospheres are constantly at risk,” he said. “We urge her to delay no longer and introduce legislation now.”