It is perhaps not surprising that determined smokers are blatantly flouting the ban on smoking in and around Bradford Royal Infirmary. What is so very disappointing, though, is that they are being allowed to get away with it.

It was a welcome move when the hospital introduced its ban at the start of the year on smoking at the entrances to the hospital and within the grounds. Apart from the fact that many non-smokers found it deeply unpleasant to have to force their way past clouds of smoke and a floor littered with cigarette ends on their way in and out of the hospital, this zero-tolerance policy sent out the right sort of signal for an establishment dedicated to restoring people to good health.

One of the main factors proved to cause health damage is smoking. A great deal of health-service time and money goes into treating people who are suffering the adverse effects of tobacco abuse. For example, elsewhere in today's Telegraph & Argus we report on work being done to help the growing number of people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, a condition which is mainly caused by smoking.

It makes a mockery of this work and all the other efforts being made to counter smoke-related illness if hospital patients and visitors are allowed to continue to ignore the new ban, which has a symbolic value as well as a practical one.

Despite having heavy demands on its limited resources, the hospital needs to make sure that its admirable policy is properly policed to get its uncompromising message across.