Update: Mask wearing guidance

October 24, 2023

Following national guidance – the infection prevention and control team team have conducted a risk assessment regarding the re-introduction of mask wearing and the decision remains:

• Masks are only required in areas where there are outbreaks of respiratory infection and in A&E where the cause of respiratory infection is unknown.
• Colleagues can, however, choose to wear masks if they wish.

The risk assessment includes trigger points when masks may be introduced in future, should we need to, for example when we see increasing numbers of patients with COVID, and this decision will made by strategic command.

We will keep this under review and communicate any changes if we reach the trigger points and need to make any changes.