A hospital in Dartford that has gone smoke-free will "reluctantly" turn patients and visitors away if they persistently break the rules.

Darent Valley Hospital banned smoking on site last week and has two wardens patrolling the perimeter to enforce the ban.

Patients and visitors are issued a yellow card if they ignore the new policy, with a final straw of refusing entry to the hospital - and for patients this could mean withholding them non-emergency treatment.

In the first week of the scheme the wardens have not had to take this action.

A hospital spokesman said: "The wardens politely approach people and ask them not to smoke. So far everybody has respected the wishes of the hospital, and the front entrance is looking much nicer and there is no need to clean up cigarette butts.

"It is important to remember we are a health establishment treating people for the long term affects of smoking. We can't in good faith allow smoking to happen on the premises.

"Wardens patrol the front mainly and have not had to issue a yellow card yet, which we are grateful for."

The card system would mean that patients who insist on lighting up would as a last resort be told to find another hospital, unless they need emergency treatment.

Visitors who continue to smoke after being asked not to will be refused entry to the hospital, with security on hand to assist wardens if necessary.

The ban was brought into effect in time with Stoptober, and the hospital will offer smokers advice and smoking deterrents to encourage them to quit all together.

The spokesman continued: "We are really grateful for the public support we have received, and so far we have not had to act which is good. To not have a deterrent would make the ban toothless in a way, but would only be reluctantly that we issue a yellow card or go further."

According to the NHS, there were estimated to be around 474,000 admissions attributable to smoking in 2015/16, which was an increase from 458,000 in 2005/06.

In 2016, 15.5 per cent of adults smoked, down from 19.9 per cent in 2010.

The spokesman said: "We see the effects of smoking everyday and this ban we hope will help with that."

The ban also applies to vaping.

What do you think of the smoking ban? Comment below.