EVERY hospital patient who smokes will be offered help to quit under an ambitious new health drive.

All smokers admitted to hospitals in NHS Lanarkshire will be offered nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) during their stay.

Those who want to quit completely will be referred to a stop smoking nurse specialist, and patients will continue to be supported after they are discharged.

The policy will be introduced across Lanarkshire this month and follows a successful pilot which found that 90% of smokers had felt more at ease coming into hospital knowing help was available.

Nancy Docherty, Stop Smoke service manager, said: "We were delighted by the findings from the pilot as they showed that most smokers who required a hospital stay, appreciated the opportunity being offered to them and that they benefited from it.

"We'd prefer if people gave up smoking completely, however, we realise not everyone is ready to quit which is why it is important to support those who smoke."

Jacqueline Mac-donald, stop smoking nurse specialist at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride, where the scheme was launched, said: "The pilot has also shown that many of those who quit while in hospital have continued when they leave."

For help to quit text: 'Advice' to 81066

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk