An NHS hospital is refusing to ban smoking on its premises because doing so would force patients to stand near dangerous roads, according to an article on the Telegraph website.

Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals in Dorset, U.K. are maintaining designated smoking areas despite pressure from government health officials.

The healthcare facilities said it had previously tried a ban of smoking on its grounds, but that this had only forced smokers dangerously close to the adjacent main road where vehicles frequently travel at 50 mph.

The stance has provoked criticism from anti smoking groups, who have pointed out that tobacco causes 50 times more deaths each year than road accidents.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which sets guidance for clinical practice, states that hospital premises, including the grounds, should remain smoke-free.

Read the article.