SMOKERS nipping out of hospital for a crafty fag are being shown up over a loud speaker.

“Loud and clear” recorded messages asking smokers to put out their cigarettes are now being broadcast outside Darlington Memorial Hospital (DMH) and the University Hospital of North Durham (UHND), in Durham City.

The messages say: “Attention please: This is a no smoking hospital. Please extinguish your cigarette. Thank you for your co-operation.”

The crackdown, ordered by the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, which runs both hospitals, comes after a no smoking policy across all of the Trust’s sites was introduced back in 2007.

The Trust says ‘No smoking’ put up across its estate do not deter all smokers from lighting up around hospital and accident and emergency entrances – including areas where ambulances are dropping off patients.

Lee Mack, head of health improvement at the Trust, said the recorded message is activated in response to a member of staff or the public reporting someone smoking.

“If a member of the public or staff sees someone smoking, they can report this at reception,” he said.

“Staff can then activate a voice message which can be heard loud and clear, asking smokers to extinguish their cigarettes.”

Mr Mack continued: “We’ve introduced the system because it’s vital we take every possible step to discourage smoking.

“Patients and visitors, including new born babies and those arriving by ambulance, often have to pass through cigarette smoke at our hospital entrances, which is totally unacceptable.

“Our goal is to have smoke free sites, and the ability to broadcast these messages is a crucial step towards this.

“One in two smokers will die early from a smoking related illness and the North East region has set a goal of less than one in 20 people smoking by 2025.”

For help to stop smoking, call the Stop Smoking Service 0800-011-3405. Studies have shown smokers using the service are four times more likely to succeed in quitting the habit.

The Trust first announced its intention to make its hospitals smoke free back in 2005. It closed the staff smoking room at DMH that April before rolling out the smoke-free policy over the following years.