Visiting our hospitals

Visiting our hospitals

Since early on in the Covid pandemic, face masks have played a key role in the national and local strategy for slowing the spread of the virus.

Last year, national guidance was changed from mandatory mask wearing to a local risk-based decision. At the time we took the approach of maintaining the requirement for mask wearing in clinical areas.

Since then, we have been closely monitoring our use of masks, and we know that there have been questions raised about the efficacy, cost, comfort and sustainability of continuing to mandate mask use.

As a result, we have made the decision to remove the policy of mandatory mask wearing in clinical areas for staff, patients and visitors, with immediate effect.