Shelters will be built at the trust's main hospitals

The Pennine Health Care Trust will put up shelters at its hospitals in Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and North Manchester for smokers.

For the first year, staff can use the facilities, but after that, they will be banned from smoking at work.

Free support will be offered by the trust for those wanting to quit.

The trust has received complaints from patients who think it is inappropriate for smokers to gather at the front doors of hospitals.

We, more than many other people, know exactly how difficult it is to stop smoking Marian Carroll Director of nursing

The trust says offering free support for stopping smoking could prompt more people to quit.

Marian Carroll, Pennine Acute's director of nursing, said: "Smoking controls apply in every single hospital in the country, yet we're absolutely sure that some staff and patients will be unaware of the free support which is available to help them quit.

"We, more than many other people, know exactly how difficult it is to stop smoking, and any small obstacle - such as perceived cost - could put an individual off.

"That indecision may well cost someone's life, as it is a big decision, and people may not reconsider their options again for years."

The move is part of the trust's smoke-free environment policy, which also sets out guidelines for health workers visiting patients at home.

'Common sense'

Patients are urged not to smoke in front of the visiting workers, but the trust says that it is unlikely to cause a problem.

A spokesman said the policy does not mean banning patients from smoking in their own homes.

He added: "Patients always take a common-sense approach to this issue, and we don't think that many would ever refuse to stub out a cigarette for the duration of the visit.

"All the policy does is to formally state what currently happens in practice, day in, day out, in homes across the country.