HEALTH chiefs have launched an investigation following reports staff were seen smoking among piles of rubbish.

A builder was so disgusted by what he saw that he contacted The Northern Echo to bring the issue to the attention of hospital bosses.

Ian Walker was working on a demolition job at the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough when he saw the smoking.

He said: "There was a covered area at one end of a quadrangle, which appeared to be a dumping ground for all manner of garbage and included two overflowing dustbins.

"I was both amazed and appalled to see uniformed staff and administration staff appear for a smoke break several times in the day standing, and even squatting, amid this filth.

"Considering the current political debate on whether or not to ban smoking in public places, I think now is the time to publicise it is happening in one, if not all, of our hospitals and to suggest that a hospital campus must be a non-smoking zone.

"Sterilising wards counts for nothing when both staff and visitors walk into them in shoes and clothes which, minutes before, have been exposed to filth you would not tolerate in your own home."

Hospital bosses have vowed to investigate the complaint into the possible health and safety breach.

Ian Clarke, chief of clinical support and chairman of the South Tees NHS Trust's smoking policy group, said: "We would welcome the opportunity to discuss with Mr Walker the issues he has raised.

"However, we would like to reassure people we have a frequent programme of collection and removal of rubbish on a daily basis and also clear the main hospital entrances of rubbish three or four times during each weekday."

He added: "I do understand why people get upset when they witness smoking around the grounds of the hospital.

"Currently, smoking is not allowed anywhere within our hospital buildings and that is strictly enforced. The trust is looking at becoming a smoke-free zone by the end of 2006.

"Signs are also clearly displayed around the site and we continue to proactively raise infection control issues with staff such as the wearing of uniforms outside clinical areas."