CLATTERBRIDGE Cancer Centre has now banned patients and visitors from smoking anywhere in the hospital grounds.

The ban, which comes into effect from Wednesday, March 11, follows the implementation of new measures in their #proudtobesmokefree campaign.

Since July 2007 smoking was banned inside pubs, bars, restaurants and other public buildings in England. As one of the leading cancer centres in the UK we want to extend this and stop people smoking anywhere on our grounds.

The #proudtobesmokefree campaign, which is line with guidance issued from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for all hospitals in England to become smoke free, will help encourage people to stop smoking on the site the Centre by introducing a range of measures; staff are being trained so they can offer nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) to patients.

They will also be on hand to offer stop smoking support and advice to patients’ family and friends and to work colleagues.

On the day, Lung Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists will offering advice and support on how to give up smoking and the Live Well Team from Wirral Community Trust will be on hand to talk through nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) and support services available.

The Trust has also put up no smoking signs across its grounds and staff will remind people not to smoke on hospital grounds.

Peter Kirkbride, medical director at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, said: "People in Merseyside and Cheshire are 20% more likely to die of cancer than the average for England.

"This is thought to be due to social factors such as deprivation, not seeking medical help at an early stage and lifestyle including smoking and diet.

"As a leading cancer centre we have a duty to our patients and we cannot allow people to smoke on our hospital grounds.

"We know this is not going to be something we can fix overnight but we are committed to the campaign and we hope to see a difference by the end of the year.

“We know how hard it is for someone to break the habit so we will have staff on hand to offer support at every step of the journey."