Trusts are now strongly recommending or requiring face mask use in clinical settings
Everything you need to know:
- Elevated respiratory illness is the core concern across Northern Ireland. High levels of viruses like flu, RSV, and COVID-19 are actively circulating, causing increased hospital attendances and placing pressure on services. This widespread viral activity has prompted health trusts to implement urgent protective measures to safeguard patients and staff.
- Trusts are now strongly recommending or requiring face mask use in clinical settings. The Southern Trust explicitly asks patients, staff, and visitors to wear masks in Emergency Departments (EDs), while the South Eastern Trust and Northern Trust require staff in certain areas to use appropriate PPE, including fluid shield masks, based on risk assessments. This temporary but practical step is intended to quickly reduce airborne transmission of viruses in vulnerable areas.
- Visitor numbers are being strictly limited to reduce overcrowding, particularly in EDs. Both the Southern and Northern Trusts ask that patients attending EDs bring only one accompanying relative or friend to minimise the number of people in waiting areas. The South Eastern Trust echoes this, requesting only one relative or friend accompany a patient attending their hospitals or Urgent Care Centres.
- Staff in some hospital and community areas are specifically required to wear masks. Following infection control risk assessments, the Northern Health and Social Care Trust and the South Eastern Trust have issued advice or requirements for their staff to wear masks when working or caring for patients, especially those displaying flu-like symptoms. This measure prioritises the protection of patients and ensures healthcare continuity.
- The Belfast Trust outlines four key steps for the public to help “Stop the Spread.” These four actions are: staying home if unwell, rigorously cleaning hands, wearing a face mask in wards and clinical areas, and getting vaccinated if eligible. These simple yet critical steps are designed to be easily followed by the public to reduce the burden on hospitals.
- The trusts stress the importance of not visiting if you are feeling unwell. The Belfast Trust explicitly asks people not to visit hospital sites if they have cold symptoms, a high temperature, or gastrointestinal issues, and the South Eastern Trust makes a similar request to relatives of inpatients. Resting at home speeds recovery for the individual and prevents transmission to vulnerable patients with weakened immune systems.
- Hand hygiene remains a crucial and enforced measure to prevent infection. The Belfast Trust highlights that hand hygiene is essential for breaking the chain of infection and asks people to use the provided hand sanitiser when entering and leaving all wards and clinical areas. This basic measure is a highly effective way to prevent the physical transfer of viruses.
- Getting vaccinated is a key part of the collective strategy to limit severity and spread. The Belfast Trust encourages all eligible individuals to take up the offer of flu and/or COVID-19 vaccines, describing them as proven ways to reduce illness severity. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service confirms it will adhere to all local guidance issued by other trusts and the Public Health Agency.
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