Press release – 26 January 2022
2022/003

Facemasks still required in NHS premises from this Thursday

Patients attending Hereford County Hospital and other Wye Valley NHS Trust buildings are reminded that they must continue to wear face masks when on Trust premises. 

Although national changes mean you don’t have to wear a face covering in public spaces from this Thursday, January 27, this does not cover NHS hospitals and clinics. 

Last week the Secretary of State for Health, Sajid Javid, announced that from this Thursday, there will be no legal mandate to wear a face mask – although he suggested that they are worn in enclosed, crowded places, especially when you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet. 

He also announced the government had ended its guidance on working from home. 

However, the wearing of facemasks continues in NHS premises and all patients, and the very limited number of visitors attending WVT buildings, will be required to wear a face mask unless they are medically exempt. 

“We thank all our patients – both those who are on our wards and those who visit our clinics as out patients – for their understanding,” said Laura Weston, the Trust’s Infection Prevention lead. 

“Omicron is very easily transmissible. We have a duty of care to all our patients, some of whom are very sick, and we need to do everything in our powers to protect them and keep them safe,” she added. 

The Trust will have staff members at the entrance to its hospitals with face masks for patients/visitors to wear when they enter the premises. 

Ends

Notes to Editors WVT:

• Wye Valley NHS Trust is a provider of health services across Herefordshire and beyond. The Trust exists to improve the wellbeing, independence and health of the people we serve.
• By working closely with our partners, we can make good our promise to deliver a quality of care we would want for ourselves, our families and our friends.
• With an estimated annual turnover of around £295 million, we employ around 3,000 staff. We aim to build new relationships between our staff, patients, service users and their carers with the wider community.

For further information please contact:

Fiona Gurney, communications officer, or John Burnett, Communication and Engagement Manager, Wye Valley NHS Trust: 01432 372928