SIR – Something has got to be done about the smoking situation outside the main entrances of St Luke’s Hospital and Bradford Royal Infirmary.

On the few occasions I have been there, I have always been greeted by clouds of second-hand smoke from selfish and inconsiderate smokers who will insist on polluting these areas.

Is it only me who is concerned about the dangers of passive smoking?

If you go through the Duke of York entrance at the back of the BRI, it reeks of stale tobacco which has been inadvertently blown in by the smokers. It also gets into your hair and clothing and is a health and hygiene risk.

It is quite ironic that millions are being spent every year by the NHS to treat and cure smoking-related illnesses.

Yet so many in-patients wearing pyjamas stand outside the doorways in all weathers smoking.

This doesn’t make sense. If this was America, for example, where you had to pay heavily for your care, I think they would think twice about this terrible habit.

The hospitals must either provide separate shelters, like the pubs do, or strictly prohibit smoking altogether within the hospital perimeters and not just inside the buildings.

I have nothing against smokers, but the whole point of a hospital is for the wellbeing of patients.

Angela Anderson, Harehills Avenue, Leeds