An Unusual Argument/View on an old topic...

Cough, splutter, cough, "I..... need some more..... oxygen" gasped Mr Jones. He couldn't have any more oxygen because too much of the stuff would kill him. He knew this, it had been explained many times before, but it didn't stop him desperately desiring enough oxygen to stop his breathlessness. Instead he had another nebuliser with room air pumping though the mask.

It was Mr Jones' third admission in five months, which was not bad for him. He had a run the previous winter when he had come in once a month for five months on end. It almost seemed that Mr Jones spent as much time in hospital as out. We knew him, he knew us, he knew the respiratory ward better than his own back yard (he no longer could walk in his own back yard as he got short of breath and had to go back on his oxygen after the exertion).

Ten minutes later the nebuliser was finsihed. "Could you... wheel me outside for a fag" his gasping wasn't quite so bad as he mananaged a sentence with only one pause for breath. I shook my head, "Ah, no Mr Jones, oxygen and a lit cigarette really don't go that well together" I replied. He managed a brief chuckle "Got away with it... all these years". I knew better than to argue, and he knew better than to try asking again.

Mr Jones was eventaully admitted to his second home, the respiratory ward. I went home, but stopped off at the local for a quick drink and catch up with a couple of friends, but didn't stay long as the smoke in the bar was so thick.

It may seem my point has been made, but I'm not done yet...

Over the next week the news was filled with those against and for banning smoking in all public places. Anong the various arguments against the ban was that they were being discriminated against, human rights etc.

Let's jump to Mrs Smith

Mrs Smith was sent to hospital because her family doctor was concerned about a lump in her arm. He was pretty sure it was just a lipoma. It was her first time ever in hospital as she is normally a healthy person who doesn't happen to smoke. The doctor there said it looked like a harmless lipoma as well, but she would need a biopsy, just to make sure. He also said it wasn't urgent.

What he didn't say to Mrs Smith but to myself (the attending nurse) was that if he had the time, or the hospital had the money, we'd get it done now, instead of letting her wait another month or more before she had the biopsy. She ended up going to her family doctor again who did the biopsy as it was quicker this way. (It was a harmless lipoma)

You know where I'm going with this yet?

Mr Jones the smoker is an extreme example of a smoker using up thousands upon thousands of pounds of health care over and over again, every time he is admitted to hospital. Most smoker's will at some stage cost the health service money because of their habit.

Mrs Jones has been admitted only once, and in need of a rather minor procedure, her visit a rather cheap visit compared to most, but she didn't get the ideal treatment because of cost.

So, for those diehard smokers who complain about their right to smoke, their right to sit and relax over a pint and light up at their local, especially on a rainy day, I have no sympathy, even if they have are old enough to have fought for their home and country.

Mrs Smith has a right to healthcare. She's not a regular, she doesn't get her money's worth out of the health service, but she does pay for the Mr Jones' of this world to get the best healtcare available to prolong his sufferring.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not heartless and going to deny the Mr Jones' the right to healthcare. I like people like Mr Jones, there's almost something comforting seeing the familiar face of Mr Jones as he's wheeled through the hospital doors. Then there's the banter back and forth over a very serious subject to look forward to. I want to help. All I'm doing is supporting the ban of smoking in public places.

PS As of July 2008, there are 250,000 fewer smokers in the UK since the ban started. In the long term, that's a huge amount of money saved, although it isn't seen in the short term.