THE North West's director for public health has urged pubs and clubs to ban smoking now rather than wait for forthcoming legislation.

Professor John Ashton has called on bars not to wait until the new smoke-free legislation comes into effect in 18 months time.

But ironically the call came on the day pub operator JD Wetherspoons scrapped plans to ban smoking in all its pubs within the next three months.

The group said it would put off a total ban until the introduction of new legislation preventing smoking in the workplace, due to come into force in 2007.

Chairman Tim Martin said the goalposts had moved while sales at the 49 pubs that JD Wetherspoon converted into non-smoking outlets had fallen, down 7.6% in the three months to January 22.

But Professor Ashton, who was in the Commons for the historic vote that saw smoke-free legislation introduced for England, said: "Pub and restaurant owners have it in their hands to make the North West the first smoke-free region in England and in doing so they will save lives. They must do it now.

"People need to recognise just how significant and historic this legislation is, but we can't afford to wait until it becomes law."

His comments came as chief executives from Wirral Hospital NHS Trust and the borough's two Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) launched their joint smoke-free policy by showing the red card to "Big Cig".

From Wednesday, March 8 - National No Smoking Day - no one will be allowed to smoke anywhere on Trust or PCT sites.

The policy is in line with a Government directive to make the entire NHS smoke-free by the end of 2006. The Wirral policy, which was drawn up after seeking staff and patient opinion, will also apply to staff working within the community.

The idea has been gradually introduced since last summer, with an interim 20-metre smoke-free zone set up around Wirral Hospital buildings.

Staff have also been setting a good example by complying with the full ban since the start of January.

Dr Melanie Maxwell, director of clinical effectiveness and chairman of the Wirral Hospital's Smoke-Free committee, said second hand smoking posed a serious health hazard to staff, patients and visitors

She said: "If this results in people being encouraged to cut down or give up smoking entirely, that is all to the good."

In January around 50 NHS premises in Liverpool became "smoke-free" with cigarettes banned inside and outside buildings like walk-in and health centres managed by Liverpool's three Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).

The move to outlaw smoking makes the PCTs among the first in the country to carry out the Government's smoking ban in and around NHS buildings.

In Liverpool the Royal Liverpool, Broadgreen and Aintree hospitals and the Cardiothoracic Centre implemented a smoking ban last year.

liammurphy@dailypost.co.uk