SMOKING will be banned in the grounds of most Gwent hospitals – with the exception of the Royal Gwent, St Woolos and Nevill Hall – from New Year’s Day.

The policy is already in force at the area’s two newest hospitals, Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan at Ebbw Vale, and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, near Ystrad Mynach.

From January 1 the ban extends to sites including Chepstow Community Hospital, County Hospital at Griffithstown, Monnow Vale at Monmouth, and a host of smaller health board-run premises.

Smoking in the grounds at the Royal Gwent, St Woolos and Nevill Hall Hospitals will be banned from No Smoking Day, March 14, the longer timescale reflecting the difficulties posed by larger sites.

The Royal Gwent in particular poses a challenge, with safety issues to be tackled, such as people who stand and smoke outside the hospital’s Belle Vue entrance being tempted on to the narrow and busy Belle Vue Lane when the grounds ban comes into effect.

The only exemption to the ban is mental health units which provide residential accommodation.

Patients, visitors and staff continue to smoke outside hospital entrances, and this, said the health board’s director of public health Dr Gill Richardson, causes particular problems outside maternity units, A&E, and other main entrances, where people are exposed to secondhand smoke.

“A smoke-free environment policy will protect staff, patients and visitors from the proven harm caused by secondhand smoking,” said Dr Richardson.

“Hospitals should be places of healing. If patients smoke whilst in hospital this increases the risk of complications and delays their recovery.

“Patients who stop smoking during their hospital stay have better wound healing, less chest infections, and if they continue to abstain from smoking are at reduced risk of readmissions.

“We want all our NHS hospitals and facilities to be places where health is promoted. We will need the support of the public and our staff for this to work, but have been encouraged by the many expressions of support we have already received.”