Calls are being made for employees to be offered greater help at work to quit smoking, ahead of the implementation of the national smoking ban on July 1st.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) recommends that help to quit smoking should be offered to workers amid concern over the impact of the ban, which will prohibit smoking in all public enclosed spaces. Experts at Nice advise that this could create an ideal environment in which smokers can take steps towards kicking the habit.

Measures outlined by Nice to this end include the provision of information on local stop smoking services and allowing workers to attend stop smoking clinics during the working day, with no pay deduction.

"Going smoke-free is a win-win situation for both employers and employees, and our advice sets out the best approach to making it happen," stated Nice chief executive Andrew Dillon.

"Our advice is based on the best evidence of which workplace approaches are effective for smokers and make business sense for employers."

Figures from the charity No Smoking Day reveal that 1.1 million smokers quit on last month's No Smoking Day, on March 14th.