From The Sunday Times
June 15, 2008
Heart attack admissions fall by up to 40% since smoking ban
Will Pavia
The number of heart attack patients being admitted to emergency wards has fallen sharply in more than half of England’s hospital trusts since smoking was banned in public places.
The figures, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, are an early indication of the impact of the smoking ban on heart disease rates in England. Some hospitals have seen the number of cases fall by 41 per cent since last July.
The British Heart Foundation said that it showed the ban was the “most significant public health initiative this century”.
Studies in Scotland and Ireland, which introduced a public-smoking ban in 2006, showed hospital admissions for heart attacks falling by 17 and 14 per cent respectively.
Comparable evidence has come from France and Italy.
These drops in the rate of heart attacks have been attributed to a large number of people stopping smoking, and far fewer people being exposed to airborne toxins through passive smoking.
Smoking ban 'could save £billions'
BBC News 28 July 2008
Doctors hope images like this will make smokers think
A public smoking ban would benefit the economy as well as people's health, the Chief Medical Officer for England has said. In his annual report, Professor Sir Liam Donaldson said a ban could save up to £2.7 billion.
His report also criticised the fashion industry for fuelling young people's interest in smoking.
He said highlighting the damage smoking can do to the skin could encourage more young people to quit. 
Enlarge Image
The economic analysis within the CMO's report says the British economy could benefit by up to £2.7billion if such a ban went ahead. This could include up to £680m saved by having a healthier workforce, which could produce more goods, £140m saved through fewer sick days, £430m saved because less production would be lost to cigarette breaks and £100m saved by not having to clean up behind smokers.
The CMO said evidence from abroad showed bans in pubs and restaurants have not proved to be bad for business. He added visits to Ireland, California and New York, which have already banned smoking in public places, showed a ban could be enforced without the hospitality trade being damaged - as had been feared, He said he found bars and restaurants "thronging with people". And an economic analysis commissioned by the CMO found that fears of falling profits were unfounded.