The Waikato District Health Board has asked for a staff report on a proposal to overturn a smoking ban in its mental health facilities.
Nicky Stevens was at a mental health facility and was considered a suicide risk, but was allowed to take an unsupervised cigarette break. Photo: Givealittle
Board member Dave Macpherson has proposed mental health patients be allowed to smoke in a secure area.
His son, Nicky Stevens, took his own life after being let out from a DHB facility on an unsupervised smoke break in 2015.
Mr Macpherson said at a meeting today, some board members wanted to focus on encouraging people to stop smoking.
But he said patients needed to be kept safe.
"People are saying it's a government policy, it's going to be hard for us to change, I don't believe it's impossible for a local DHB to change that, but we'll see."
Mr Macpherson said the board would consider the report in July.
