IPS are aware that many members are facing considerable pressure from staff, concerned about facemasks in the context of the new variant of COVID-19 and the huge pressure on NHS services. These concerns are of course completely understandable but we have to be balanced against potential adverse consequences of wider implementation of FFP3 respirators. Professor Jennie Wilson has prepared a document that outlines some of the underpinning evidence and key considerations that might be helpful for making decisions around this issue. We hope this will help inform your discussions at local level.