Face masks

If you are an OUH staff member and you need further information, please speak to your line manager or email staffquestions@ouh.nhs.uk.

Face masks in our hospitals

Staff

You must wear a mask when providing direct care for all patients with new onset respiratory symptoms, or who are still in isolation with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis

You are not routinely required to wear a mask when caring for asymptomatic immunocompromised patients, but you can continue to wear a mask if that is your preference.

You should continue to wear a mask if asked to do so by a patient.

Infection Prevention and Control colleagues may advise mask wearing in certain clinical areas if there is an outbreak of a respiratory viral infection.

Please ensure that your patient is comfortable with you not wearing a mask, and wear one if they (or a visitor) ask you to.

Wearing a face mask does not replace good ventilation and good hand hygiene, which must continue.

Wearing a face mask correctly

• Wash or sanitise your hands before putting it on
  
• Ensure the mask goes up to the bridge of your nose and all the way down under your chin
  
• Tighten the loops or ties so it is snug around your face
  
• Avoid touching your face, or the parts of the mask that cover your nose and mouth
  
• Wash or sanitise your hands before taking it off
  
• Use the ear loops to take the mask off and wash or sanitise your hands afterwards

Tips for wearing face masks (pdf, 271 KB)

Patients

Patients may wear face masks through personal choice, and should wear face masks - if tolerated and safe - if they have COVID-19 / influenza or RSV infection and are within the isolation period but not in a side room.

Visitors

Visitors must wear face masks if advised by Infection Prevention and Control (for example, visiting patients with COVID-19), and may also choose to.

Health conditions

In most cases, face masks are safe for anyone to wear, regardless of health conditions, and all staff working on hospital sites are now expected to wear face masks in certain areas or when with certain patient groups in our hospital buildings.

This applies to both clinical and non-clinical staff, contractors and anyone else working on our sites.

Hearing loss

If guidance requires that a mask must be worn by a member of staff caring for a patient with hearling loss, ensure a plan is put in place for how you are going to communicate with the patient - masks can be removed unless the patient has COVID-19 or other respiratory symptoms.

• If the patient is immunocompromised, ensure you are seeing them in a well-ventilated environment.
  
• Make sure you face the patient and speak clearly - avoid shouting, or speaking too fast or too slowly.
• Write things down.
• If the patient uses a hearing aid, make sure they are wearing their hearing aid and the battery is working.
• Use simple gestures, and sign language if known.
  
• If someone doesn't understand you, repeat what you said or phrase it differently - remember to use plain language.