Since April 2020, all visitors to Bassetlaw Hospital, Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Montagu Hospital have been asked to wear a suitable face covering when attending clinical services such as inpatient wards.
With a consistent decline in COVID-19 rates locally, colleagues at the Trust have taken the decision to remove most of its masking requirements for the first time in almost three years. Individuals can still wear them if it is their preference.
Clinicians attending to patients with symptoms, or a confirmed diagnosis, of coronavirus will be asked to wear a mask, whilst routine testing will still take place.
Karen Jessop, Chief Nurse at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH), said: “Following a sustained decline in the number of patients testing positive for COVID-19, we are pleased to be able to rescind the majority of our requirements for masking.
“We will continue to monitor our position, and will still require some colleagues to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when necessary. We will also respect the choice of individuals if they continue to wear a mask if it is their preference.”
The Trust diagnosed its first patient with COVID-19 on 21 March 2020, and since that time has cared for 8,663 individuals with the illness.
Karen continues: “We continue to ask local people to consider if your visit is essential if you have any symptoms of COVID, or other infections such as diarrhoea and vomiting. Infection presents a danger to our most vulnerable patients, so please be mindful of this.”
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals is still operating with some visiting restrictions, which can be viewed here: https://www.dbth.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/