The Eastern Health Board has decided to ban the sale of cigarettes in its three acute hospitals and has urged voluntary institutions to do the same.
The decision follows a submission to the board this week by its public health specialist, Dr Marie Laffoy, who argued that many patients were in acute hospitals because of smoking-related illnesses. Smoking is responsible for about 6,000 deaths annually in the State and for about 90 per cent of lung cancer cases.
The ban applies to James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown, St Colum cille's Hospital in Loughlins
town and Naas General Hospital. The board is to write to voluntary acute hospitals in its area to encourage them to adopt a similar policy.