Emergency department staff are continuing to wear face masks at Stoke-on-Trent’s main hospital. The face masks were brought back in the adult and children’s A&E at Royal Stoke University Hospital from mid-December.
But there is no rule in place to make patients and visitors wear face masks. It comes as Leighton Hospital is now ‘strongly urging’ its patients and visitors to wear masks amid a rise in viruses.
Royal Stoke chief nurse Ann-Marie Riley said: “Patients, visitors and staff are not required to wear a face mask. However, patients and visitors may be asked to wear a mask in areas where we are treating patients with a respiratory infection and/or clinically vulnerable patients.
“Due to the high incidence of flu cases, staff in certain emergency portals such as A&E, Children’s Assessment Unit, Ambulatory Emergency Care and Acute Medical Unit are recommended to wear fluid repellent surgical masks routinely. This advice was introduced on 18 December.
“We recognise some people will feel more comfortable wearing a mask and therefore any member of staff, patients and the public are able to wear a mask if they wish.”
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