Hospitals, healthcare and residential aged care facilities

Smoking is banned at all Queensland public and private hospitals, public health facilities, and all public and private residential aged care facilities and for 5 metres beyond their boundaries.

A residential aged care facility may designate part of their outdoor area as a ‘nominated smoking place’ where smoking may occur.

These no-smoking laws apply at all times, and to all staff and patient areas on healthcare or residential aged care facility land, and includes the use of all smoking products, including electronic cigarettes.

The laws cover:

• land on which any Queensland Health Hospital and Health Service provides health services, including hospitals, community health centres, health clinics, rehabilitation centres and residential aged care facilities
• land on which a private health facility (private hospitals and day hospitals) provides services
• land on which a facility used to provide aged care is situated.

It does not include retirement villages and other areas where elderly persons live independently or aged care provided to people in their homes.

Five metre buffer zone

The buffer is a 5 metre no-smoking area beyond the boundary of the hospital, healthcare or residential aged care facility. This area does not extend into residential or business premises that share a boundary with a hospital, healthcare or residential aged care facility land.

Signage

• Download and print no smoking signs for use at your hospital or health care facility.
• Download and print signs for use at your residential aged care facility.