Face coverings in our hospitals from 15 June

In line with Government guidance, from Monday 15 June 2020 we are asking patients and members of the public to wear a face covering at all times when visiting our hospitals.

Patients and members of the public may wear a face mask if they choose, but a face covering is sufficient.

Wearing a face covering will help to limit the spread of COVID-19, and protect others from the virus.

For the face covering to be effective, please be aware that:

• it should cover your nose and mouth while allowing you to breathe comfortably
• you should wash your hands or use hand sanitiser before putting it on and taking it off. You should avoid touching the front or the inside of the covering, and handle it by the ear loops or ties
• when wearing the face covering, you should avoid touching your face at all times.

You should also follow other infection control safety measures when visiting our hospitals, including social distancing and regular hand washing.

Sam Foster, Chief Nursing Officer at the Trust, said: "Thank you in advance to our patients for wearing face coverings when coming to our hospitals. We are encouraging our staff to challenge people who are not following national guidance to keep our patients and staff safe.

"This is an additional measure to help keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most important thing people can do is to continue to observe social distancing and maintain good hand hygiene - these are the most important parts of keeping everyone safe."

You can find advice on how to wear and make your own face covering at home on the Government website.

Government guidance on the use of face coverings generally is also available on their website.

Face coverings and face masks are additional measures to keep people safe while in our hospitals, however social distancing and good hand hygiene practices are still the most important ways to keep you and those around you safe.

With that in mind, we would ask that you do the following:

• wear a face covering or mask when in our hospitals
• keep 2 metres between you and other people where possible
• regularly wash and/or sanitise your hands.

We will be putting additional signage and markings out very soon to help you move around our hospitals safely.