SMOKING is to be banned at St Luke's Hospital in Huddersfield.

Staff, patients and visitors will be prohibited from lighting up in buildings and grounds at Crosland Moor.

The ban comes into force on January 1, in line with a deadline for all NHS premises to be smoke-free.

Patients with mental health problems who use the hospital are among those affected.

Their smoking rates are at least twice as high as those of other people.

Steven Michael, acting chief executive at South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust, said: "While this policy is not about telling people they have to stop smoking, we are keen to encourage and help people if they wish to stop.

"Many people with mental health problems want to give up and we are committed to help them make this vital improvement to their health."

Experts say quitting does not make psychiatric symptoms worse. They say it can actually lead to lowered anxiety levels.

Help to quit is being offered in the form of individual action plans and nicotine replacement therapy.

Mr Michael added: "We realise that for some patients at our acute mental health units quitting smoking is a very difficult thing to do.

"We recognise that some patients who are very unwell may have circumstances that require staff to make an assessment as to whether special arrangements need to be made.

"If a number of detailed criteria are met a patient may be permitted to smoke. But this will be strictly determined depending on personal circumstances.

"No blanket exceptions will be made for particular categories of patients.

"However, we will continue to work with individuals to help them stop smoking while in hospital.

"Evidence suggests that smoking cessation treatments are just as effective for people with mental health problems as for the rest of the population."

Smoking has already been banned at other National Health Service premises across Kirklees and Calderdale, including hospitals and offices.