THE Government’s ban on smoking in public places has been successful to a large extent. However, there has been one blemish on this success and that is the incidence of smoking, both active and passive in the grounds of medical establishments such as doctors’ surgeries, health clinics and hospitals, despite warning notices being publicly displayed.

I have always believed that visiting times at hospitals was a genuine opportunity for friends and family to enquire as to a patient’s health and wellbeing, not to take the patient out for a smoke break, thereby worsening their situation and placing another obstacle in the way of their recovery.

It may be that we have to rely on people putting in place their own voluntary ban on smoking in these particular areas, the alternative being the imposition of rules and regulations which may prove, unfortunately, to be the more viable option.

We should strive to establish Scotland as a medical centre par excellence where patients could be assured of being treated in an almost guaranteed smoke-free environment.

Brian T McFarlane,

14 Balmoral Drive, Cambuslang.