Released 10 May 2023
Request:
I understand that a review was carried out of the Trust’s communication on mask wearing to ensure consistency.
The review looked at the Trust’s Information Internet page and the poster messages throughout the Worthing site to ensure a consistent mask wearing message was available to visitors.
Please could I have a copy of the findings of this review which was carried out late in 2022/early in 2023.
Information disclosed:
The review you are referring to was a verbal discussion about when to lift the Trust’s mask mandate. No recorded information was generated from this meeting.
The Trust’s Infection Prevention and Control teams and Clinical Advisory Group considered the indications for continued mask wearing at regular intervals throughout the pandemic, based on the local and national Covid prevalence data available at each review, as well as impact of Covid on staff absence.
Around 4 weeks ago, the decision was taken to stop the mandated use of fluid-resistant face masks in ALL clinical areas, but to continue mask use when treating highly vulnerable patients or patients identified as being at risk of having Covid (based on symptoms and/or clinical findings).