Smoking could soon be stubbed out at Trowbridge Hospital as part of a health promotion campaign.

Staff and managers have been discussing the possibility of building a shelter in the hospital grounds for smokers, to replace the smoking room inside the hospital.

Wiltshire's health promotion service has circulated a questionnaire asking staff where the new smoking area could be located, and what could be done with the current room. Suggestions range from a library to a staff room or quiet room.

The Trowbridge initiative coincides with a national survey, which shows that almost 90 per cent of nurses who smoke want to give up.

Acting on this information, the hospital also plans to offer support for nurses who want to quit.

That could range from one-to-one counselling to support from ex-smokers and reduced-cost nicotine patches.

Wiltshire health authority chief executive Jeremy Hallett said: "We have a valuable and valued workforce and it makes sense that in the drive to help all smokers who want to give up, they are offered support as well."