All four primary care trusts in the Bradford and Airedale district will go smoke-free on National No Smoking Day next week.

From next Wednesday, no smoking will be allowed on any PCT premises or in their grounds.

The move will apply to staff, patients and visitors to any of the PCT sites.

The new policy is being introduced right across Bradford City Teaching Trust, Airedale Trust, North Bradford Trust and Bradford South and West PCTs to combat the damaging effects of second-hand smoke and to help staff give up cigarettes.

Over the last few months the ban has been publicised across the primary care trusts to give staff the chance to get used to the new policy.

The organisations have also provided support and encouragement to staff who want to quit cigarettes.

Dr Sheila Webb, public health director at Bradford City tPCT said: "We hope that by making the PCTs smoke-free zones it will provide a healthier environment for all our staff and patients.

"We accept that whether people smoke or not is a matter of personal choice, but where they smoke is of public concern.

"As a health community we support the total ban on smoking in the workplace and would encourage all organisations and businesses to go smoke-free as soon as possible.

"It really does make a difference to people's health."

Scientific evidence on the health effects of second-hand smoke shows it increases the risk of heart disease and lung cancer in non-smokers by a quarter and it also makes asthma worse and can contribute to cot death.

For one long-serving member of staff the ban was the encouragement she needed to quit smoking for good.

Jan Wilson, administrative and clerical manager at City Teaching PCT, was a smoker herself for 40 years until she decided to give up cigarettes at Christmas.

With the use of nicotine patches and support from her husband, who quit at the same time, she has stayed smoke-free since.

She said: "Giving up smoking has made a big difference to how I feel. It definitely is one of the best things that I have ever done.

"I won't have to stand outside in the cold to have a cigarette any more."

Helen Broadbent, director of primary care at Bradford South and West PCT, started smoking at the age of 14 and her 20-a-day habit lasted for the next 23 years.

She quit with help from her GP practice and used nicotine patches and dummy cigarettes. Now 40 and recently having had a baby, the new mum said: "I simply couldn't imagine smoking now.

"I decided to stop three years ago and found the help available really worked but you have to be very determined too.

"Being pregnant would definitely have made me stop smoking but luckily I managed to quit a long time before that. I now hardly ever get a cold and can genuinely say I feel a lot healthier."

Rachel Ellis, communications manager at Airedale and North Bradford PCTs, was a social smoker for ten years and quit shortly before getting pregnant.

She said: "Once I understood the emotional pull for that odd cigarette I found it easier to resist.

"Now when I feel stressed I go shopping instead - I spend the same amount of money without it having the health implications!"