NHS trust plans smoke-free grounds by 2026

People continue to smoke at the entrances to buildings "despite clear signage", trust chief executive Simon Constable said

Hospital bosses have said they will ban smoking in their grounds by 2026, after accepting there is a "serious problem" at building entrances.

University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) said it was looking at eliminating smoking by staff, patients and visitors anywhere on its sites while offering support to the affected groups.

The government is looking to ban smoking outside all hospitals and schools in England, although it is unclear when it will come into force.

Trust chief executive Simon Constable told a board meeting "a multitude of things" must be put in place for it to happen.

The trust runs both the Royal Stoke and the County Hospital in Stafford.

“This is an opening gambit as to how we approach this as an organisation," Mr Constable said, "how we make it possible without unintended consequences, with support for both staff and patients and their visitors."

He said engagement with staff and the public was starting now.

“Simply saying we’re going to be smoke-free isn’t going to do it," he added.

“The strands will be different for patients and staff with regards to tobacco dependency and what offers we make to them, as well as empowering staff to challenge both each other and patients.”

In his report to the trust board, Mr Constable noted that people continue to smoke at the entrances to buildings "despite clear signage" and said that "at the very least" staff and patients should be using the smoking shelters until the site-wide bans come into effect.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.