Members Forum
Mask usage in non-clinical areas
I know that the mask guidance for hospitals is still in place, but I am wondering whether anyone has said that staff who are in non-clinical areas, sat at desks and socially distanced can remove their mask. Given the changes in rules outside hospitals it is getting increasingly difficult to maintain compliance in non-clinical areas and this may be easier to manage. Any thoughts?
7 Comments
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sharon clarkthere was something in National Guidance re non wearing of masks when seated in covid secure areas / office space, i will see if i can find it and post it on here for you
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sharon clark· providers of primary and community health services should ensure that measures are in place so that all settings are, where practicable, COVID-secure, using social distancing, optimal hand hygiene, frequent surface decontamination, ventilation and other measures where appropriate· where a setting cannot be delivered as COVID-19 secure through all other means, a local assessment may conclude that primary and community healthcare staff (both in clinical and non-clinical roles), when not otherwise required to use personal protective equipment, should wear a face mask; worn to prevent the spread of infection from the wearer*· where a COVID-19 secure environment cannot be maintained, patients and members of the public entering primary and community healthcare premises should be advised to use face coverings in line with government advice
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Patricia CattiniThank you. I think if you are able to distance etc then you should be able to remove the mask while seated. I changed my mind with omicron as it is so infectious, but given for most people (especially if vaccinated) it's not much more than a cold, I think we should be able to do this now. It feels silly that me and my team adhere to the rules, but I go to other office areas and people just don't follow the rule! I think, given changes outside hospitals, we may have lost the room so to speak.
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Dana WoodHi, does anyone have a risk assessment for non-clinical staff not wearing masks? At a webinar recently the Chief Nurse mentioned the issue of non-clinical areas not wearing masks any more in the NHS but our OH and H&S dept want this to be based on a risk assessment undertaken by managers with their staff. Just didn't want to reinvent the wheel if there is already one out there!
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Dana WoodHi, does anyone have a risk assessment for non-clinical staff not wearing masks? At a webinar recently the Chief Nurse mentioned the issue of non-clinical areas not wearing masks any more in the NHS but our OH and H&S dept want this to be based on a risk assessment undertaken by managers with their staff. Just didn't want to reinvent the wheel if there is already one out there!
I think there used to be some HSE guidance which supported this stance (removal when seated in offices) but this has been removed from their website now