On 2 December, the Catalan Network of Smoke-Free Hospitals held its 22nd annual meeting at the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO). It was an opportunity for most of the representatives of the network’s member hospitals to meet again and exchange experiences.
Dr Maica Galán, Director of Care at the ICO, welcomed the participants and Dr Esteve Fernández, Secretary of Health of the Generalitat de Catalunya, opened the conference. Dr Cristina Martínez, as the new coordinator of the network, then introduced the event.
Laura Antón and Montse Ballbè, technical coordinators of the network, reviewed the year. They shared data on the evolution of hospitals in different activities, such as the care of hospitalised patients and workers who smoke, where it is necessary to improve the systematisation of these interventions, and the training of professionals, where one of the challenges is to ensure optimal dissemination of the training offer to all professionals.
This year, several new documents and materials were presented to support the implementation of the Smokefree Hospital Project, such as an electronic information pill on smokefree hospitals for staff, an explanatory document on what a smokefree hospital is, a guide on the role of the Smokefree Hospital Project Coordinator describing his/her main functions, information leaflets and psycho-educational materials for inpatients, among others.
In the second part, four hospitals presented their experiences. First, Elvira Pla, from the Hospital Pere Mata Terres del Ebre, explained how they had managed to implement smoking cessation strategies in a psychiatric hospital and reach an optimal level. Next, Anna Señé, from the Hospital de Viladecans, talked about new developments in intervention with professional smokers and the challenges posed by the recent construction of a new hospital. Next, Gemma Nieva from the Vall d’Hebron Hospital summarised the hospital’s track record in tobacco control over the years and how they have implemented the Network’s online course on brief smoking cessation interventions for their staff. Finally, Miquel Vilardell from Consorci Hospitalari de Vic spoke about their long and successful track record in tobacco control.
During the meeting, mention was made of the recent renewal of the highest level (Gold) in the implementation of the “Hospital without Smoke” project by the Vall d’Hebron Hospital, and special recognition was given to three very relevant professionals for the course of the Network, who are beginning a new stage with their retirement: Dr. Carmen Cabezas, until mid-January of this year Secretary of Public Health of the Generalitat de Catalunya, who has always given us unconditional support; Dr. Miquel Vilardell, from the Vic Health Consortium and coordinator of the Hospital Without Smoke project in this institution, who has been a reference person in the territory for 35 years; and finally, and finally, Dr. Cristina Pinet, from the Hospital de Santo Pablo, a reference and pioneer in tobacco intervention and linked to most of the Network’s projects and materials since its inception. Many thanks to all three!
Before the final presentation, Clara Mercader from the ICO presented a research project on the implementation of preventive interventions in cancer through a tool-guide (PIECES project) and offered the possibility of participation to all member hospitals of the network that wished to do so.
In the third and final part of the meeting, we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr Armando Peruga from ICO/Idibell, who gave a keynote presentation on the controversial tobacco harm reduction strategy currently being promoted by the tobacco industry, and explained the difference between the concept of harm reduction and that of public health.
Finally, Dr Josep Maria Suelves, Head of the Prevention and Control of Smoking and Injury Service of the Catalan Public Health Agency, closed the meeting with a reflection on the day’s discussions.
I would like to thank everyone for attending and participating in this fruitful meeting. It was a pleasure to meet again and we will see you next year.