I know that people cannot now smoke at work but I work in a care home and someone has told me that the regulations do not apply to care homes. Is this right? FROM Sunday July 1 smoking is banned in enclosed and substantially enclosed premises in Englan

'I know that people cannot now smoke at work but I work in a care home and someone has told me that the regulations do not apply to care homes. Is this right?'

FROM Sunday July 1 smoking is banned in enclosed and substantially enclosed premises in England. This includes workplaces, restaurants, pubs and shops.

The ban applies to anything which can be smoked, not just cigarettes, cigars or pipes. There are some exceptions, for example, designated rooms in hotels and care homes.

This does not mean you can smoke throughout the care home and the general ban will apply to all those rooms that have not been designated as exempt.

The designated rooms are generally bedrooms and those rooms which have been designated in writing as being rooms where smoking is allowed. This partial exemption means residents in care homes can treat certain rooms as they would any room in their own homes.

The ban on smoking also applies to vehicles which are used by members of the public (for example, buses and taxis) and company cars which are not exclusively used by one person.

Signs must be displayed at the entrances to smoke-free premises and must be of a certain size and display specific wording.

There are penalties for smoking in a smoke-free place, for not enforcing the ban and for not displaying no-smoking signs.

As from July 1, members of the public are able to report possible breaches of the no-smoking ban by calling 0800 587 1667.

More information can be found on the website www.smokefreeengland.co.uk