All that money saved on Heart disease / treatments and yet we still have to pray that we don't get MRSA when being admitted for far less serious ailments, who's propaganda machine was this article for ?,why are people still contracting this easily controlled disease from a so called "Health Service"

Paul Green, Neasden, England

What a strange lot of disbelieving responses. Can't someone simply applaud the benefits of the ban and see it for what it most probably is - good for people. Less smoking means better health!

Stephen, Cardiff, Wales

What a load of tosh propaganda. So when heart attack figures are on the increase what will they blame, global warming? Why are the taxpayers still funding the work shy non producing muppets at ASH. Surely we can use this money to help clean our filthy hospitals as they kill more than smoking does.

Cromwell, Leeds, England

'the tireless work of GP's .... promoting healthy living,treating diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, ....lowering cholesterol '.

And don't forget all the extra money that rolled in for them when they did - at the expense of sufferers from other, less lucrative, complaints.

Sarah, Carcassonne, France

This is welcome news but the ban is not the full story. It is sad that the tireless work of GP's and their primary care staff in promoting healthy living & smoking cessation and,in particular, in treating cardiovascular disease ,hypertension,& diabetes and lowering cholesterol goes unrecognised here

amanda, dereham, norfolk

This is a welcome trend but ,as the article suggests ,the ban is not the full story.It is sad that the tireless work of GP's and primary care staff in promoting healthy living,treating diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, and in particular in lowering cholesterol goes unrecognised here

amanda, dereham, norfolk

All nonsense really. There will probably be a short term reduction in death by various deseases but once the initial few years boost has been used up, the same amount of people will die each year as they did before the ban. It will just happen at a slightly higher age. Lies, damned lies and stats.

Mark Chisholm, Dereham, UK

This is welcome news , but it is not the whole picture.There are other factors at work here,not least the tireless work put in by GP's and their primary care colleagues whose work with diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, cholesterol lowering , and smoking not always recognised .

amanda, dereham, norfolk

Ae we supposed to believe this one after the Helana heart attack scam figues, Scotlands figures, it would be good if it were true. The 30min heart attack has already been disproved I believe, and that was from one of the antis once upon a time hero, Michael Siegel ! BHF charity can shut up shop then

mandyv, cambs, uk

How incredibly short-sighted! I feel very sorry for all those paramedics, ambulance drivers, and A&E staff who will be made redundant because of this selfish initiative!

All these health workers must eat too! This is an outrage!

Steve R, London, UK

Quite right Lee, and the figures quoted for Ireland and Scotland were also shown to be fallacious within months of being published by the official health service figures. As any honest specialist will tell you it is simply just medically in possible to reverse any heart damage in less than a year.

Robert Feal-Marrtinez, Swindon, England

In South Carolina, heart attack admissions fell by 12.5% from 2003 to 2004. Is this a result of no smoking ban in South Carolina. In Nebraska, heart attack admissions fell by 28.5%from 2003 to 2004. Is this because there is no smoking ban in Nebraska?

Sheri, canton, USA

The non smokers have had their way , now summer is here the outside seems so more attractive, but does that stop the whingeing no. I am a non drinker I say ban all alcohol, all those smelly breathed drunks rolling about ,causing mischieve , and running over people disgraceful :-)

Alex, Southampton,

Yes , more Propaganda from the Anti smoking lobby , passive smoke has been proved to be harmless over a 40 year study carried out in America but the Antismoking Bigots had their way and pressurised Governments for Smoking bans ! ,Smoking rates are up 2% in Ireland by the way and we will be next ?

chris , Blackpool, Lancashire

If only the smoking ban in England could make a larger impact on smoking in the street. In the West Country it is still at times difficult to avoid those puffing away, with their smoke hitting you square in the face/lungs...yuck!!

Philip Taylor, Henstridge, UK

This is excellent news. Unfortunately a vocal minority are still in denial about the effects of smoking on health, but anything that prevents people from smoking - and more importantly, prevents my having to breathe their smoke - is a good thing.

Scott, Glasgow, UK

Yet more seemingly positive propaganda for an illiberal law, the fact that in 48 trusts the figures remained the same or in fact increased, therefore negating the fall in cases elsewhere, what are the overall figures? or are these so small as to make the headline claim unwarranted.

Les, Southport, England