A SENIOR doctor unveiled a sign to mark Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust’s first day as a tobacco-free organisation.

From yesterday, nobody, including staff, contractors, patients, visitors and members of the public, is able to smoke tobacco anywhere at Colchester General Hospital or Essex County Hospital, including the car parks, footpaths and roadways.

Dr Barbara Buckley, the trust’s managing director, said: “As a provider of healthcare services, we have a responsibility to encourage healthy lifestyles which is why our two hospitals are going tobacco-free.”

People at Colchester General Hospital and Essex County Hospital will still be able to use e-cigarettes, but will need to go to a designated vaping area.

All staff will be encouraged to politely challenge anyone they see smoking tobacco and ask them to put out their cigarette.

Patients or visitors who see someone smoking should let a member of staff know.

The Trust already asks patients when they are referred whether they smoke, and will signpost them to their GP or a smoking cessation service for support to stop.

Colchester-based Provide, which runs a broad range of community services, including a free stop smoking service, can be contacted by phone on 0300 303 9988 between 8am and 8pm, or by emailing provide.essexlifestyles@nhs.net

According to PHE, smoking causes 96,000 deaths a year in the UK and, for each of those deaths, about 20 smokers are suffering from a smoking-related disease. About 475,000 hospital admissions in England were attributable to smoking in 2014/15.

Smoking in hospital grounds is already banned by law in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Legislation is earmarked for potential introduction in Wales later this year.

Colchester Hospital Trust’s long-term partner, Ipswich Hospital, is also going tobacco-free on Wednesday.