SMOKERS face being banned from lighting up OUTSIDE Worcestershire hospitals.

The nationwide ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces starts on Sunday, July 1, but county health chiefs aim to go one step further and ban smoking in all parts of their hospital sites.

The blanket ban, which could be introduced on July 5 next year to mark the 60th anniversary of the NHS, would turn Worcestershire Royal Hospital, the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Kidderminster Hospital into smoke-free zones.

Dr Charles Ashton, medical director, said that in the short-term, smoking shelters on hospital grounds will have to be altered so they are not classed as enclosed spaces, which would make smoking in them illegal from July 1, unless they are modified first.

He said: "There's also a feeling in the trust that we should go further in due course and move towards a smoke-freesite in one year's time for the 60th anniversary of the NHS. It's a question of giving staff enough notice."

Non-executive director Colin Beardwood said having a total ban would allow hospitals to "smarten up".

He said: "It would need proper policing and someone to be constantly on top of it."

Regarding the national indoor smoking ban, he said: "There's been a prohibition in Ireland, Scotland and Italy. Somehow everyone here is getting their knickers in a twist."

The trust's plans, which have yet to be formally agreed, were discussed at a board meeting of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

Nina Wood-Ford, Unison representative for staff, said people were not using the current smoking shelters, and staff were going to be punished for it.

She said: "It's the public who are standing in front of the hospital smoking.

"It isn't fair that our staff have to tackle patients and visitors who more likely than not can be quite abusive about smoking.

"You're going to have to take actions against the visitors and patients - it isn't the staff."

James Hill, of Smoke Free Worcestershire, said: "Different organisations respond to the new smoking regulations in different ways. All need to comply with the new law.

"That law doesn't include a smoke-free site but many organisations in Worcestershire are considering smoke -free sites following consultation with staff."

But smokers are not impressed at the plan.

Clair Murray, aged 26, of Worcester, said: "I think the ban in public houses and restaurants is going to help people to give up and if people can't smoke in pubs it may reduce the number of people who first start smoking on a social basis.

"But the idea of banning smoking at the hospital seems a little unfair, I am able to smoke outside my office - in the designated area - and I don't think that the staff at the hospital should be told they cannot smoke anywhere on hospital premises. Smoking is a personal choice after all."

When the national indoor ban comes in on July 1, anyone caught smoking can be fined £50 or up to £200 if they are taken to court.

Failure to display signs can also lead to a fine of £200 or up to £1,000 if the case is taken to court. Organisations such as the health trust can be slapped with a £2,500 fine if people are smoking in their premises.

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