Changes to Face Mask Guidance in Hospitals from 16^th May    

Patients and visitors attending hospitals in the Western Isles will no longer have to wear face masks (exceptions will apply) from tomorrow (Tuesday, May 16), following a Scottish Government review of guidance. 

The Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care and the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport have agreed to withdraw the ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): extended use of face masks and face coverings in hospitals, primary care and community healthcare settings’ guidance and the ‘Coronavirus (COVID19): extended use of face coverings in social care settings including adult care homes’ guidance.    

NHS Western Isles has considered the above guidance and has taken advice from our local Health Protection and Infection Prevention and Control teams and has agreed that the use of face masks for patients and visitors will no longer be required (exceptions below), however masks will continue to be available to those who choose to wear them. We would stress that we still strongly encourage patients and visitors to continue with hand hygiene measures and that visitors should not visit hospital if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or feel unwell.   

In certain situations, visitors and patients may be asked to wear a face mask by clinical staff on wards. This could be for COVID (e.g. outbreak) or non-COVID related reasons.  

NHS staff in some specific areas of our hospitals will continue to wear face masks during periods of close contact with patients. This will be applicable specifically in areas where there are particularly vulnerable patients (e.g. High Dependency Unit) or where there is a higher volume of patient turnover (e.g. the Emergency Department). This will be reviewed again by NHS Western Isles in six to eight weeks. Staff working on a COVID Ward will also continue to wear masks.