Mask requirements at our hospitals

26 April 2023

In response to reducing COVID-19 inpatient numbers, and a sustained reduction in staff-related COVID-19 absences, the universal requirement to wear masks in patient facing ended on 5 April 2023

There are some exceptions to this, which are described below:

• Surgical masks must still be worn by staff, patients and visitors, whilst on the Respiratory Unit
• Health and care staff should continue with universal masking when working in COVID-19 cohort areas and wards experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19.

Patient guidance

• Inpatients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 will still be provided with a facemask (Type IIR Surgical mask)

Visitor guidance

• Visitors and individuals accompanying patients to appointments are not routinely required to wear a facemask unless this is a personal preference or there is an outbreak in the area or the Respiratory unit is being visited
• People with any symptoms of COVID-19 and/or Flu, however mild, must not attend to visit patients

The infection prevention and control team will continue to monitor number of patients with COVID-19 and outbreaks closely

September 23 2022

September 23 2022

We are continuously monitoring the COVID-19 situation in our hospitals and in our communities. We are currently seeing an increase in the number of cases and this is rising quickly. In response to this we are implementing the following:

• All patients, staff and visitors must wear masks in all Adult Inpatient and Outpatient areas, as well as Children's and Maternity areas from today, September 23 2022.
• Inpatients will be offered a mask to wear and encouraged to do so if they are able to tolerate one.

Masks are provided at all our entrances.

Please do not attend our hospitals if you are displaying symptoms of COVID-19, other respiratory infection or illness

August 11 2022

August 11 2022

In response to reducing COVID-19 inpatient numbers and a sustained reduction in staff related COVID-19 absences, the universal requirement to wear masks in our healthcare settings will end from Thursday 11 August 2022 with a few exceptions.

Masks will still be available at all our entrances and we strongly encourage those who may choose to continue to wear a mask universally to do so according to their personal preference or individual risk assessment.

Haematology and Oncology

• Universal masking will still be required where patients are at high risk of infection due to immunosuppression (this may be applicable to other areas outside of haematology and oncology that are risk assessed to have high risk patients also)
• Therefore masks must still be worn by staff, patients and visitors across Haematology and Oncology inpatient and outpatient areas including chemotherapy day cases.

Patient guidance

• Inpatients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 will still be provided with a facemask (Type IIR) on admission

Visitor guidance

• Visitors and individuals accompanying patients to appointments are not routinely required to wear a facemask unless this is a personal preference or there is an outbreak in the area being visited. They should NOT visit if they have COVID-19 symptoms.

Please help us by continuing to follow the instructions or requests of our staff relating to infection control measures such as wearing a mask. Thank you.

July 4 2022

July 4 2022

We are continuously monitoring the COVID-19 situation in our hospitals and communities. We are currently seeing increased cases and these are rising quickly. We are therefore re-implementing the requirement for all patients, visitors, relatives and staff to wear masks from today, July 4 2022.

• All patients, colleagues and visitors will be required to wear a Type IIR Surgical Mask at all times except when eating and drinking. These are available at all our hospital entrances.

If a member of our staff requests that you wear a mask, please respond with respect. This measure has been introduced to protect vulnerable patients and further limit the spread of COVID-19.