‘Much higher’ risk of staff-to-staff covid infection behind decision to insist on masks in non-clinical areas

New guidance, which will come into force on 15 June, will mean staff working in all hospital settings will be required to wear type one or type two surgical masks at all times. The only exception will be areas designated as “covid-secure” workspaces, Mr Hancock said.

At the coronavirus daily briefing on 5 June, Mr Hancock said: “One of the things that we’ve learned is that those in hospital, those who are working in hospital, are more likely to catch coronavirus whether they work in a clinical setting or not.

“We’re upgrading this guidance to make sure that even as this virus comes under control […] our hospitals are a place of care and of safety.”

The move follows increasing concerns that NHS staff are infecting each other. Last month, national director for acute care Keith Willett told an NHS webinar: “The evidence we’ve seen suggests the infection risks from staff to patients or patients to staff seems very low but the risks to staff of infection is much, much, much higher between staff and staff, and patients and patients.”

On the same webinar, NHS England national clinical director for trauma Dr Chris Moran said NHS staff often displayed poor infection control behaviour in social areas.

At Friday’s daily briefing Mr Hancock urged NHS staff to follow the self-isolation advice if one of their team members tests positive for covid-19, and said social distancing in the workplace “matters just as much as anywhere else”.

He said: “As we get this virus under control, it’s so important we stamp out new infections and out breaks. And of course, in health and care you do this brilliantly all the time and coronavirus is no exception. That means that if one of your team tests positive you have to follow the isolation advice”.

Mr Hancock also announced that: “Today we are setting out that all hospital visitors and outpatients will need to wear face coverings”, but not surgical masks “which need to be kept for clinical settings”.

However, a later government briefing note claified that hospital outpatients and visitors would only be “strongly urged” to wear face coverings, and that: “no one will be denied care [if they are not wearing a mask] and face masks will be provided by the hospital if necessary.” 

The statement continued: “The government is confident in stocks of face masks to meet demand and continues to pursue contracts for additional stock. Further guidance for hospitals will be published next week to allow hospitals to get stocks and plans in place, and the guidance will be kept under review.”

The announcement that masks would be mandatory in hospitals sparked an angry reaction from NHS Providers. 

Deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery said: As is the case for a number of announcements throughout the pandemic, this has come with little or no consultation with the NHS frontline and without a plan in place to ensure that all trusts will have access to adequate supplies of type one and two masks.

 “Alongside the requirement to provide masks for all staff, trusts have also learnt tonight that some of the patient visiting restrictions will also be lifted from 15 June.

 “We know that trusts want to do all they can to ensure that patients can have contact with their loved ones while in hospital, but there is understandably nervousness and concern about opening up visiting too quickly.

 “Trusts need time to put in place processes and guidance to ensure that patients can receive visitors safely and while adhering to social distancing and infection control measures.”

NHS Confederation policy director Layla McCay commented: “This virus is not just infectious in hospitals. It is encouraging that the government is considering how a requirement to wear face coverings can be extended to social care, where the disease has taken its hold most severely. Workers across other settings, including general practice, pharmacies and community services, should expect to receive the same level of protection. Consideration also needs to be given to mental health services where we know there are cases.”