NHS hospitals across Bradford have said they will consider new guidelines to ban smoking on their premises and to tell staff not to help patients who want to smoke.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) says measures are needed to help patients stop smoking while they receive care and preferably help them to stop for good.

While individual NHS trusts will have the final say, NICE says staff and people using NHS services, including clinics, should be told not to smoke on the hospital grounds.

NICE also says trusts should ban any designated smoking areas with no exceptions, but hospitals across Bradford have said although they will consider the guidelines, they are already addressing the issue.

A Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said it was trying to keep all areas around its hospital smoke-free, but admitted smokers around its entrances were still causing concern.

“Every patient is encouraged to stop smoking before planned admission to our hospitals and all inpatients who smoke are given support, advice and stop-smoking nicotine medication by our staff in a bid to help them give up, while in our care,” the spokesman said.

“A specialist from Bradford Council also runs weekly clinics for all patients, visitors and staff who express an interest in smoking cessation at the Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital.”

He added: “Following consultation with key stakeholders, we took the decision to reinstate a trial smoking shelter last year in a positive effort to control tobacco smoking within our estate.

“We would take this opportunity to call on smokers – particularly patients and visitors who continue to flout our policy – to refrain from smoking when on our grounds.

“Our clear desire is that patients and visitors are afforded a smoke-free, healthy and safe environment in which to receive care.”

Rob Dearden, director of nursing for Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said it was in the process of reviewing its smoking policy and will consider the guidance from NICE as part of this process.

“However, we operate a designated area-only approach, using smoking shelters, which is pragmatic and realistic. Smoking is not allowed in any other part of the hospital or grounds. Our aim is not to condone or encourage smoking, but to support people to stop,” Mr Dearden said.

Meanwhile, Simon Long, Head of In-Patient Services at Bradford District Care Trust responsible for Lynfield Mount psychiatric hospital, said the Trust already had a smoking-related policy to protect people and that smoking was not permitted in any building owned or leased to the Trust.

However, Mr Long also said: “Currently, smoking is permitted for in-patients only at our mental health units in designated external areas. All patients and staff are encouraged to stop smoking and are offered support by a smoking cessation health advisor.”