Local hospitals appeal for cloth face coverings

Health professionals at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) are asking local hobbyists to help to create cloth face coverings for the use of visitors to the Trust.

Colleagues at the hospitals are keen to stress that these donated items are not to replace the use of surgical masks or FFP3 respirators within the Trust’s clinical and other appropriate settings, and the organisation will not be changing any of its current and existing policies on the use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

Simple, double-ply face masks can, in some instances, slow the spread of Covid-19 and help those people who are currently unknowingly living with the virus (asymptomatic) from transmitting it to others. This is particularly useful when individuals are coming to and from the hospital sites, or using things such as public transport.

Any items will be gifted to individuals which they will be able to use as their own (non-transferable or non-shareable) face covering.

Instructions can be found below – send your contributions to DBTH Face Covers, Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Armthorpe Road Doncaster South Yorkshire DN2 5LT. Alternatively, you can bring items to Main Stores within the Gate 5 entrance of the address above. From here they will be distributed across all hospital sites within the Trust.

A sewn cloth face covering [guidance provided by Gov.uk]

You will need:

  • two 25cm x 25cm squares of cotton fabric
  • two 20cm pieces of elastic (or string or cloth strips)
  • needle and thread
  • scissors
Items you need for a sewn face covering
Items you need for a sewn cloth face covering

Step 1: Cut out two 25cm x 25cm squares of cotton fabric. Stack the 2 squares on top of each other.

Step 2: Fold over one side by 0.75cm and hem, then repeat on the opposite side. Make 2 channels by folding the double layer of fabric over 1.5cm along each side and stitching this down.

How to fold face covering

Step 3: Run a 20cm length of elastic (or string or cloth strip) through the wider hem on each side of the face covering. These will be the ear loops. Use a large needle to thread it through. Tie the ends tightly.

Threading the ear loops and sewing into place

If you only have string, you can make the ties longer and tie the covering behind your head.

Step 4: Gently pull on the elastic so that the knots are tucked inside the hem. Gather the sides of the covering on the elastic and adjust so the covering fits your face. Then securely stitch the elastic in place to keep it from slipping. These elastic loops fit over the ears.

Completed face covering

Face coverings should not be used by children under the age of 2 or those who may find it difficult to manage them correctly. For example, primary age children unassisted, or those with respiratory conditions.

This information is a guide to making a simple face covering. We do not endorse any particular method and other instructions are widely available online. Always take care to use equipment safely to avoid injury. Children should only follow these instructions under the supervision of adults.

Send your contributions to DBTH Face Covers, Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Armthorpe Road Doncaster South Yorkshire DN2 5LT. Alternatively, you can bring items to Main Stores within the Gate 5 entrance of the address above. From here they will be distributed across all hospital sites within the Trust.