Mallow General Hospital in Cork is to become a smoke-free campus in the New Year, the HSE has confirmed.

From Monday, January 6, 2014, smoking will not be permitted anywhere on the hospital's grounds. It will join Bantry General Hospital and Kerry General Hospital, which are also set to become smoke free on that day.

According to consultant physician at Mallow General, Dr John Kiely, this new policy will provide an environment ‘that promotes health and supports those who want to give up smoking'.

"The facts are indisputable when it comes to the health gains - giving up smoking greatly improves a patient's recovery. Research shows that non-smokers or those who quit smoking before and after surgery have much better wound healing and recover faster," he noted.

Meanwhile, according to the hospital's manager, Siobhan Lynch, this new policy ‘sends a clear message' that Mallow General ‘is committed to protecting and promoting the health of our patients, staff and all who visit'.

Staff at the hospital, along with health promotion staff in north Cork, will be informing all patients of the new policy in the coming weeks in advance of their admission. Once admitted, patients will be offered free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) during their stay.

Patients can also be referred to a smoking cessation service, which is free of charge.

According to the hospital's director of nursing, Mary Owens, ‘we are not telling anyone that they must stop smoking, but we are asking people not to smoke in our hospital during their stay'.

"Stopping smoking at any age is a very difficult task, but we will provide both staff and patients with all the help they need to quit smoking while they are in our hospital. The single most important thing a person can do to improve their health is to stop smoking and we are very pleased to be able to provide such an environment in Mallow General and we will support anyone who wishes to do that," she added.

For more information on quitting smoking, call the National Smokers' Quitline on 1850 201 203.