ROYAL Bolton Hospital could be preparing to tackle a dirty habit darkening its doorway.

While health bosses are calling for a nationwide ban on smoking in NHS buildings and grounds, in Bolton a crackdown could be about to begin.

The hospital has banned people from smoking on the site since 2009 but since it is not illegal to light up outside, the sanctions are difficult to enforce as people continue to flout the rules.

Following the launch of a Public Health England (PHE) “tobacco-free NHS” campaign, Bolton NHS Foundation could now be tightening up its house rules.

Fiona Ashton, lead at Bolton Stop Smoking Service, said: “You are not officially allowed to smoke on the hospital grounds but it continues to be a problem.

“The staff hate it, visitors and patients arriving at the hospital hate it and it causes a lot of aggravation.

“We can’t fine people for doing it and there aren’t any sanctions to stop them from smoking on the grounds.

“Also, for the smoker it is difficult and it’s difficult to tell someone to not smoke. Imagine being really hungry and you take a bit of a sandwich when someone comes along and tells you to put it down. You would say no, go away. It is something we want to address, we have not started a campaign yet but we want to publicise the fact this is a smoke-free site and you shouldn’t smoke anywhere on the site.”

The NHS officially went ‘smoke-free’ in 2006, and the national smoking ban came into action on July 1 2007 making it illegal to smoke in all enclosed work places in England.

Duncan Selbie, chief executive of PHE, now wants every hospital’s buildings and grounds to be completely smoke free.

Around 25 per cent of patients in hospital smoke, and the campaign aims to offer more support on quitting to patients, visitors and staff.

In an open letter to all NHS trusts Mr Selbie wrote: “I am asking for your help to reach smokers who are in your hospital waiting rooms, consulting rooms and beds.

“There is a clear opportunity to achieve significant short-term savings and reduce demand.”