Hospital smokers get buzzer warning from children

Smokers who light up near the entrance to the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital are now hearing a warning from primary children about the health risks.

A buzzer has been installed next to the main door of the hospital which when pressed plays the voices of the children asking visitors not to smoke there.

A group of young pupils from Meiklemill School in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, were involved in creating and recording the phrases, some of which are in the north east Scotland dialect of Doric.

The project - led by local charity The Archie Foundation - sees warnings including “please dinna smoke by oor hospital door".

The English version includes: “Smoke from cigarettes or vapes is not good for our breathing and it makes us feel sick. Let’s keep the air clean for us wee ones nearby.”

A group of eight pupils from P1 to P5 at Meiklemill School were involved, with the help of deputy headteacher Lorna Keith.

Mrs Keith said: “It’s an important part of our teaching in the school to keep traditional Doric alive, so when we were approached to get involved, we asked the children for the phrases they thought would resonate with people."

Sarah Pirie, project co-ordinator at The Archie Foundation, said: “We are so pleased to see the smoking buzzer installed at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital entrance and it’s now there for anyone to press if they see someone smoking outside."