Local hospitals have unveiled their plans to become fully smoke free.
Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Trust, which runs Queen’s hospital in Romford and King George hospitals in Goodmayes, launched the 'breath of fresh air’ campaign to stamp out smoking on all of its sites.
Tobacco is the most common cause of admissions to hospital according to the trust.
Smokers have to stay in hospital for a third longer than non-smokers, and their wounds take longer to heal.
A leading respiratory consultant Dr Rob Fowler said: “As a health service dedicated to fighting illness, we cannot condone an activity which is known to cause disease and early death.”
A questionnaire to allow people to leave feedback will be available on the Trust website until October 26.
The hospitals will then become fully smoke free by March 15, national no smoking day.
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