PATIENTS, visitors and staff are no longer required to wear a face mask inside Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester hospitals. 

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT), which runs the three hospitals, has changed its policy for face masks meaning patients, visitors and staff do not have to wear one inside.

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The trust relaxed the rules around wearing facemasks in June this year, after working with its infection prevention team.

However, weeks later it made a U-turn announcing in July that everyone was required to wear a surgical mask on its sites following a “significant increase in the number of Covid-19 positive patients in our hospitals”.

Dr Lara Alloway, chief medical officer at HHFT, said at the time: “We know that these changes are challenging and we would like to reassure everyone that they will only be in place for as long as they are necessary to ensure the safety of our patients, visitors and staff.”

The trust has now dropped its mandatory face mask policy again meaning it is no longer a requirement for patients, visitors or staff to wear a mask in non-clinical areas.

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This includes corridors, outpatient locations and communal areas such as restaurants.

Patients, visitors and staff must still wear a hospital-provided surgical face mask in clinical areas such as hospital wards and departments such as accident and emergency (A&E).

Information on the trust’s website says: “It is helpful if you are able to do a lateral flow test (LFT) before visiting, but it is not compulsory.”

A spokesperson from HHFT said: “Updated guidance regarding mask wearing on site has been rolled out across Hampshire Hospitals, in line with national guidance and carefully considering our current local position.

“Masks are no longer required in non-clinical areas, including corridors, outpatient locations and our restaurants. Surgical face masks must continue to be worn by staff, patients and visitors in clinical areas – for example on a ward – to ensure we continue to protect those in our care who are most vulnerable.

“Our priority remains keeping everyone in our hospitals safe, and this guidance will be regularly reviewed.”