I shall be on BBC Radio Essex this afternoon.
They want me to discuss a report in the East Anglian Daily Times that revealed that hospitals in Ipswich and Colchester have been forced to reverse their non-smoking policy and install shelters and cigarette bins after smokers ignored the smoking ban.
The main problem, it seems, was smokers dropping cigarette butts on the periphery of the grounds and the NHS trust was concerned about the impact on people living nearby.
This is not the first time I've heard of local residents being affected adversely by hospital smoking bans.
Even if they are enforced, which rarely happens, it doesn't stop patients, visitors and even staff from smoking.
Instead they congregate somewhere else, individually or in groups, sometimes outside the houses of local residents.
Anyway, while I don't condone people dropping litter (including cigarette butts), I feel far more strongly about hospital smoking bans that discriminate against the sick and the infirm and those who simply want a comforting cigarette to help them through a stressful situation.
Another reason is that they are unworkable without a disproportionate use of force and Big Brother style engagement that can include wardens, CCTV cameras, public address announcements and so on.
Thankfully, in this instance, the local NHS trust has seen sense and come down on the side of common sense and pragmatism.
Anyway, I shall be discussing the issue on BBC Essex with Hazel Cheeseman, director of policy at ASH, but only after some behind-the-scenes shenanigans.
According to the BBC, Hazel would only agree to go on air with me if listeners are told at the outset that Forest is funded largely by tobacco companies.
Since this is not a secret I happily agreed – as long as the presenter also tells listeners that ASH is part-funded by the taxpayer.
I'll let you know what happens.
In the meantime it says a lot about ASH that they are attempting to dictate to broadcasters how Forest is introduced before they will go head-to-head with us.