Changes to mask wearing guidance at UHDB
The national guidance on mandatory face masks in healthcare settings has changed.
We’ve carefully reviewed the guidance in consultation with our Infection Prevention and Control team and microbiologists and here at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton, we are amending our mask wearing policy from Monday 20 June 2022.
From this date, face masks in non-clinical settings, such as corridors, restaurants, and reception areas, will become a personal choice, rather than a mandatory requirement. This will be reviewed on a regular basis.
Please see for our latest guidance for visitors to our hospitals >
Mask guidance for visitors from 20 June:
- Visitors: mask wearing is only mandatory when entering a patient bay or single room. In other areas, mask wearing is a personal choice.
Mask guidance for patients from 20 June:
- Inpatients with suspected or confirmed respiratory infection such as Covid-19 or influenza: you will be provided with a mask, however this must never compromise your clinical care.
- All other patients: mask wearing is a personal choice.
Mask guidance for colleagues from 20 June:
If you visit our hospitals, you will see that UHDB colleagues will continue to wear a face mask while delivering patient care in bays, clinic rooms and while transporting patients between departments. However, just like for patients and visitors, face masks are a personal choice elsewhere in our hospitals.
Masks will still be available at our hospitals for those colleagues, patients and visitors who choose to wear one.
Patients and visitors who are immunocompromised are reminded that it may be beneficial to continue to take extra steps to protect themselves, including mask wearing and good hand hygiene.
We will continue to review the levels of Covid-19 and other respiratory infections in our hospitals and in the communities we serve and will respond to national guidance accordingly. It is still important to continue to follow good hand hygiene practices and follow any guidance provided by UHDB colleagues.
It may take some time for the signs inside our hospitals to be updated. If you are unsure on current guidance, please see our information for visitors on our website > Alternatively, please ask a member of staff for further guidance.
Garry Marsh, Interim Executive Chief Nurse said: “This may feel like a big change for some of you, because masks have been a key part of our Covid-19 measures for so long. However, thanks to the success of the vaccination programme, we’re now caring for a low number of patients who have tested positive for Covid-19, very few of whom have been hospitalised as a result of their Covid infection.
“Thank you to our communities for following our guidance throughout the pandemic.”