Mrs Jermaine, who lives alone in South Elmsall, has been told that her five-a-day habit is a danger to other residents.
The widow, who receives an hour of home help a day, has an open gas fire and frequently drops her matches on the floor, posing a risk both to herself and her neighbours.

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Mrs Jermaine said: "All I want is to go in a home. But they say I can't because I smoke and I won't eat my meals."
Her friend Geraldine Gorton, who runs a shop on High Street, started a petition to get a nursing home place after Mrs Jermaine came into the shop distressed yesterday morning.

Miss Gorton said: "She was crying her eyes out, saying she wanted to go into a home. I think it's disgusting.

"She's so frail and she clearly can't look after herself. She's a danger to herself and to other people.

"On Monday, she fell on the kitchen floor and was only found when the carer came in, hours later. She desperately wants to go into a nursing home, where someone can look after her.

"Smoking is the only pleasure she has left in life.

"She's a risk to both herself and a whole street of people at the moment. If she flicked the wrong switch, there could be a gas explosion."

According to guidelines on the Registered Nursing Homes Association (NNHA) website, the smoking ban means that staff and visitors are no longer able to smoke inside nursing homes at all.

But residents may smoke in their bedroom or a communal room, provided the owner specifically designates and clearly marks the room as a smoking room.

Rob Hurren, from Wakefield Council, said Mrs Jermaine was not in a nursing home because the council believed she was getting the necessary support at home.

He also said the council did not have a blanket ban on smoking in its nursing homes.

YOUR VIEWS:

Rita's generation fought for our freedom, a lot of them paying for this with their lives and they will now be turning in their graves. Our freedom is now being erroded bit by bit & it is totally wrong thet Rita is being denied council care because she smokes.She should be free to carry on enjoying her cigarettes in her later years. It truly beggars belief!!
Jan Gibbons

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The council's decision seems to be totally lacking in common sense and common humanity.
Sue Lynch

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I agree with Jan Gibbons that Rita's generation did fight for our country but no-one has said Rita can't go into home - just that she can't go into a home whilst she continues smoking. Why should other residents, visitors and staff suffer the effects of such a dangerous and disgusting habit? The article states that Rita often drops matches - what if one of these stray matches starts a fire. Why put everyone in the home at risk of being burnt to death? If Rita stops smoking surely she will then be allowed access to the place in a home that she wants. If this is the only barrier and going into a home is what Rita wants it makes sense to give up. Claire Barker

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Shame on Blair + Brown and this outrageous smoking ban ... such nonsense.

Smoking ... is probably ... one of this poor old lady's only sources of enjoyment ... totally ridiculous ... this anti-smoking law should be scrapped.

Scott, Leeds

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