A HEALTH trust yesterday announced plans to ban people from smoking anywhere on its premises.

Patients will also be asked not to smoke when health staff visit them at home.

Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) formally approved the decision at its board meeting in Colburn on Tuesday.

The ban will come into force on January 1 and applies to all sites owned or leased by the trust, with the exception of psychiatric settings, which are to become smoke-free by the end of 2006.

Liz Pollard, non-executive director and smoke-free champion of the PCT, said: "Under the Health and Safety Act, the PCT has a duty of care to provide a healthy and safe environment for our staff, patients, and visitors.

"That includes protection from the hazards of second-hand smoke, which has been shown to cause lung cancer, heart disease, asthma and a wide range of other illnesses."

Dr Phil Kirby, director of public health at the PCT, said: "Allowing smoking on NHS premises undermines our efforts to tackle the dangers caused by smoking and second-hand smoke.

"The NHS has a moral imperative to lead by example and promote smoke-free public places."

"We know that these restrictions on smoking will pose some difficulties for some people who smoke.

"Every effort is being made to ensure that advice is available, not only on stopping smoking, but on temporary abstinence for individuals who are not ready to quit."