Ahead of the publication of the government's White Paper on public health later this month, the medical director of the British Heart Foundation (BHF), Professor Sir Charles George, has changed his stance on smoking in public places in Britain.

A BHF spokesperson confirmed that Sir Charles, who is also president of the British Medical Association, had written to the health secretary John Reid, urging him to consider a total ban on smoking in public places as the risks from passive smoking have been underestimated.

Prior to this, Sir Charles had not favoured a ban on smoking in public places but it is understood that new research into harm from direct or passive cigarette smoking prompted his u-turn. Details: www.bhf.org.uk