Face masks a must at hospitals

NHS Lanarkshire have announced visitors to an acute or community hospital – including those attending for an appointment – will be required to wear a face covering.

The main purpose is to try and prevent the transmission of coronavirus from the person wearing the facemask and comes as public restrictions ease .

Hospital visitors will now be met at the entrance by a volunteer who will guide them on the process they have to follow, such as keeping your own facial covering on or changing it to one provided if needed with guidance on how to put it on.

Visitors and those going for appointments will also be advised to use hand sanitiser and follow a specific route to where they are going.

Face coverings should not be used for children under the age of five years and mask disposal advice and guidance will also be given.

Meanwhile, if an appointment or visiting time is out-with normal hours, visitors should speak to the receptionist or nurse in charge of the department they are attending/visiting.

For visitors, young children, people with breathing difficulties or specific medical conditions who may be unable to wear a face covering or mask, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and physical distancing measures must be reinforced and strictly adhered to.

The health board’s head of infection prevention and control, Christina Coulombe, told us: “Our priority is to protect staff and visitors in these very difficult times.

“We are, and will continue, to be focussed on providing safe methods of working in line with national guidance.”

Visiting to hospitals remains restricted at this time but are expected to change in the coming weeks.