Thank you to senior management @GreatNorthCH for the rapid response & staff on the ward for listening to Daniel’s concerns & facilitating his voice to be heard by encouraging him to write directly to management. Maybe a physical barrier at this hotspot is a reasonable solution?

@DrBalsamAhmad @DrLindaDykes Haven’t seen an update for a while. But would I be right that things are improving for Daniel if he’s able to write (brilliant) letters?

@drpoco @DrLindaDykes Fortunately he is articulate & is a good advocate-always has been. Luckily he can still do this now although his body has some way to go to get to the state of health where he has been before.

@DrBalsamAhmad Sounds like Daniel is a great advocate, wishing him all the best in his recovery. Sheffield Children's hospital has a button you can press if people are smoking outside, which plays a message to them (recorded by children) asking them not to smoke. Quite effective I think.

@EllieHoul Thank you Ellie. That seems like a good approach in Sheffield. I know of other hospitals which have used a tannoy system with a child’s voice. I wonder if anyone has done an evaluation of what works?

@DrBalsamAhmad Balsam - your experiences with Daniel ring so many bells. I have been appalled at the response of some hospitals to smoking on site, outside front entrance etc. PALS have brushed off complaints in person and by email in the past. Agree about Sheffield Ch - it’s very effective.

@davidmgilding It is a common issue in many hospitals & we have been in two. No excuse not to take action though. Sick children & service users who aren’t smokers have the right to breath clean air. The choice is between them or smokers who refuse to move a few meters away offsite to smoke!

@DrBalsamAhmad I don't know why people persist in smoking there. There is already a mural expressing the children's upset at having people smoke beneath their windows. Good for Daniel, to highlight this issue.

@DrBalsamAhmad @Dr2NisreenAlwan My nephew is a 'frequent flyer' at RVI (due to a genetic condition and needs oxygen), my niece (his sister) made a load of posters for the window. She's also stood outside and shown smokers pictures of her brother the other side of the window. They (rightly) were embarrassed.

@DrBalsamAhmad It’s so frustrating when people do this. I remember once staying in a hotel where the staff would smoke under my rooms window as they started or finished their shift. Would be far worse though in a hospital.

@DrBalsamAhmad @Dr2NisreenAlwan He is clearly a bright articulate young man Wishing him a speedy recovery . prayers are with him

@DrBalsamAhmad Well done to him, this is such a persistent problem, I don't know how people can do it when they see those posters

@DrBalsamAhmad Has he emailed it to the chief exec?

@DrBalsamAhmad I think that nurses should use the window as a sleuce💩 everytime someone smokes underneath...... It'll stop people smoking there and its easy to identify the smokers 🤔😉

@DrBalsamAhmad This has been a problem for years unfortunately despite many many many complaints. The same can be said outside the freeman.