PATIENTS and visitors are to be banned from smoking in hospital grounds.

NHS grounds are to be completely smoke-free within two years, with staff also to be forbidden from lighting up close to their place of work, the Scottish Government said.

The move builds on the ban on smoking in public places imposed seven years ago this week, according to Health Secretary Alex Neil.

"Creating smoke-free hospital grounds sends out a powerful message that every visit to our health service is an opportunity to promote and improve people's health," he said.

"We all know how unpleasant it can be to walk through a cloud of smoke in order to enter or leave a building. These measures will help to ensure that we create a healthier environment for people who use, visit and work in our health service.

"That is why we believe staff, patients and visitors will support and respect this decision and refrain from smoking."

NHS boards will be expected to implement the ban by March 2015.

The measures will not apply to mental-health facilities, which have an exemption to allow provision of designated smoking rooms under the original smoke-free legislation.