A HOSPITAL smoking ban could be extended -into patients' own living rooms.

The move is part of a proposed crackdown across the 1,000-bed South Tees Hospital Trust, which could ban smoking anywhere on hospital property from July 1.

As part of the guidelines, patients visited in their homes will be asked not to smoke during visits by hospital staff.

The homes policy, one of the first in the country, advises staff to request a smoke-free environment in advance.

It said: "A verbal request can also be made at the time of the visit and the client should be respectfully asked not to smoke whilst the employee is working within that environment."

Trust director Cameron Ward said the policy was intended to protect hospital staff from inhaling harmful second-hand cigarette smoke.

Mr Ward said: "We cannot legally enforce this in people's own homes, but our staff have a human right not to be exposed to second-hand smoke."

In line with similar policies in place at the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust and the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, the South Tees Trust -which includes the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, and the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, will become smoke-free in July if the trust board backs the recommendation at its meeting tomorrow.

Mr Ward said the policy was part of efforts across the UK to reduce smoking levels.

While there is no suggestion that staff will refuse to treat smokers who ignore the request not to smoke, the proposal was condemned by Simon Clark, a spokesman for pro-smoking lobby group Forest (the Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco).

He said: "I think it is quite wrong for hospitals to take this approach. It is one thing for people to be asked not to smoke while they are visiting, but it is totally wrong for any hospital to insist on people not smoking in their own home. What will happen if they do not comply? Will they withdraw treatment?

"The idea of anybody coming to any harm from going into the home of a smoker for a short period of time is absolute nonsense.

"Anyway, research into the effects of passive smoking is very inconclusive."