NHS moves towards local decision-making on face masks

As of 3 April, individual health and care providers in Norfolk and Waveney will decide upon their own guidelines regarding mask use, based on the level of risk in their local setting, and will communicate these guidelines with staff and patients.

This approach follows national NHS England guidance regarding the use of face masks.

The overall approach, all health and care providers in Norfolk and Waveney are taking is as follows: –

1. Instead of face masks being universally worn, they will be worn in certain settings based on local risk assessments. Staff and patients will be made aware about whether they are required to wear a mask.
2. Staff should wear masks when caring for patients with respiratory symptoms, prior to assessment.
3. Staff should wear masks when caring for patients who have confirmed infectious respiratory illness.
4. Staff should wear masks when caring for immunosuppressed patients.
5. In settings where staff are not required to wear a mask, they are welcome to continue to do so if they wish.
6. Masks will be available for patients and visitors to wear if they would like to wear one.

Local health and care settings will communicate with staff around their specific local guidelines. Patients should speak to staff at the NHS trust they are visiting if they have any questions.

For more information on the national guidance, visit the NHS England Website to read the ‘Next Steps letter and Infection Prevention and Control manual’