Hospital sites across the South West are being urged to take steps to become tobacco-free.

This week Public Health England (PHE) Chief Executive Duncan Selbie has written to every NHS Trust Chief Executive asking them to implement a ban on smoking by patients, staff and visitors across all hospital buildings and grounds.

He wrote: ’I am asking for your help to reach smokers who are in your hospital waiting rooms, consulting rooms and beds.

’By working together I believe we can make the NHS a place which provides a supportive tobacco-free environment for patients, staff and visitors.’

In the South West several trusts have led the way with smoking bans on hospital grounds, while many more are working with other organisations including their local authority public health teams towards going completely smoke-free in the future.