Rules banning smoking outside an Australian public hospitals could be reviewed because health workers are being attacked and abused while trying to police the policy, according to an article on the Barossa Herald website.
Calls for an audit of the ban are being led by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, which is concerned workers are being put in danger.
The calls come after the death of a Melbourne heart surgeon who was allegedly punched in the head in the foyer of Box Hill Hospital after expressing concern about people smoking near the hospital entrance.
"Smoking rooms may address some issues, but bystanders and relatives at hospital, quite often because of their agitation and concern, may just smoke outside front doors of hospitals," Ambulance union state secretary, Steve McGhie, said.
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