The hospital where my office is based refused to have a healthcare assistant spend time taking a man out for a cigarette. He took legal action and although he lost, (gave up on the morning of the court hearing starting ) his lack of assets meant The NHS was stuck with a £12k legal bill.

One aspect of this addiction that galls me is running the gauntlet each morning of smokers attached to drips or in wheel chairs with legs missing. Even in winter. Prolonging their stay in many cases, making less capacity for new patients. We really do need to recall the Bevan aims of The NHS. It can only work if people take responsibility for their health.