A minute area outside Tønder Hospital is demarcated by bright yellow lines to indicate that here, and nowhere else on the premises, is smoking allowed.
Camilla Schwalbe, Tårnby council member and non-smoker, posted a photo on her Facebook page of the Tønder smokers' lounge along with a comment that she thinks the oppression of smokers has gone too far.
Witch-hunt
"I have often said that smokers are being persecuted," she said.
"To date this remains the most grotesque example of this smear campaign. Tønder Hospital has marked a tiny postage stamp on a giant lawn. A hospital should be focussed on improving and informing on health, but this is taking it too far."
Bo Andersen, head of Sygehus Sønderjylland's service center, which operates Tønder Hospital, admitted to TV2 News that the smoker square is small, but explained that it was based on a conscious decision by the hospital.
"The conditions we offer smokers are a conscious decision made by the board. We have to fulfil the regional policy to get smokers away from the entrances."
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No money on smokers
Setting up smoking pavilions was momentarily discussed, but discarded because the hospital didn't want to spend money on smokers.
"We want to send a signal that smoking is unhealthy. Besides, smoking speaks against our mission of curing ill people," he told TV2.
No smokers have yet complained to Sygehus Sønderjylland about the facilities.
