RESIDENTS are being reminded about new Wales-wide legislation regarding smoking on hospital grounds.

Denbighshire County Council and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) are working in partnership to remind residents that hospital grounds, as well as school grounds, public playgrounds, outdoor day care and child-minding settings, are now required to be smoke-free.

Emlyn Jones, Denbighshire County Council’s head of Planning and Public Protection, said: “We will be working with the health board to assist their approach of advice and guidance to those visiting hospital sites.

“Smoking is extremely harmful and damaging to health and remains one of the main causes of inequalities in health in Wales. These measures have been introduced by Welsh Government to protect employees and the public from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

“Smoking will no longer be tolerated on hospital grounds.

"Officers will only be called to take enforcement as a last resort when it is clear people are ignoring the legislation and where the health board has taken all reasonable measures.

"Our main focus will be on assisting the health board in providing advice and guidance. Our officers will be dealing sympathetically and compassionately with patients experiencing difficult circumstances in line with the guidance contained within the legislation."

“I would also like to thank the health board for their increased efforts around encouraging people to quit smoking in light of this new legislation.”

Teresa Owen, executive director of Public Health, said: "The new Welsh Government regulations will support our efforts to help people quit smoking.

"We welcome the assistance we're receiving from our local authority colleagues to help keep public areas smoke free."

New regulations came into force on March 1, making it illegal to smoke in hospital grounds.

While a voluntary ban has been in place across the health board for some years, this is the first time it has been enshrined in law.

The new laws, introduced by the Welsh Government across Wales, build on the smoking ban in hospitals and other public buildings introduced in 2007.

The new law means that all parts of the hospital grounds will be smoke-free.

Anyone found breaking the law by smoking in the hospital grounds could face a £100 fine.