PLANS to ban puffing on cigarettes in East Lancashire hospitals have gone up in smoke after staff failed to attend training sessions to implement the new policy.

And patients and visitors have been openly flouting the anti-smoking ban and lighting up inside the buildings and grounds run by the East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, a report says.

The ban was implemented in December last year, one year ahead of governmental requirements.

A report presented to Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust by its stop smoking' service reveals it has been hard to get the message across to patients because staff are not attending training sessions that help them deal with the issue, including coping with angry reactions from people asked not to smoke.

Sessions at Burnley General Hospital even had to be cancelled because turn out was so low.

Ann Smith, specialist smoking cessation nurse adviser, said: "There has been a major problem with the enforcement of the policy. Many staff are reluctant to confront patients and visitors who smoke in the grounds. Hopefully the number of patients smoking will reduce when more nurses are trained."

She continued: "During my three days a week at the hospital I see many patients smoking in the grounds at Burnley General Hospital.

"Compliance with the policy is very poor. I speak to many of the smokers and find that they either have no information about the policy or are blatantly ignoring it."

Mrs Smith requested tobacco control nurses on each ward who will monitor the situation and provide training for other nurses. This was implemented this month.

Lynne Barton, of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said that the Trust knew it would take some time for the new rules to be followed.

She added: "Recently we have had some problems with patients and visitors smoking in our hospital grounds.

"For the welfare of other patients, clearly we need to ensure that this does not continue.

"To this end, we are currently reviewing the implementation of our policy and the signage around our hospitals to ensure that everyone is clear about the measures in place and their own responsibilities.

"One of the key areas that we will be focusing on is the training offered to staff to help them provide information and support to patients on the policy."