LIVERPOOL Women’s hospital is spending thousands of pounds clearing up cigarette butts – because people are ignoring its no smoking rules.
Bosses said staff are too scared to confront patients and visitors caught lighting up.
Pregnant women are among the culprits.
Recently hospital chiefs forked out more than £6,000 on a clean-up operation and appointed a concierge to warn smokers.
The Crown Street hospital was made a no-smoking site in January 2006, as the city took up the Smoke Free Liverpool initiative.
Staff said the rules are generally respected within the hospital itself, but visitors and some patients frequently ignore the signs prominently displayed around the grounds and entrance.
Appealing to the public to respect the no smoking rules, chief executive Kathy Thomson said: “We have recently had to spend over £6,000 to clear away cigarette ends and chewing gum.’’
