Mandatory mask wearing reintroduced at Leicester GP surgery as a …
A Leicester GP surgery[1] has reintroduced the mandatory wearing of face masks[2] for all patients. People registered to the Canon Street Medical Centre, Belgrave, received a text from the practice which informed them they may be denied entry if they do not wear a mask to the surgery for future appointments.
Mask wearing was first introduced in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and the rules on when and where to wear them have fluctuated since. But in June this year, NHS staff working in Leicester hospitals were told they were no longer required to wear a mask in clinical areas for the first time[3] since the pandemic began.
However the Canon Street surgery is bringing back the use of masks to help protect its most vulnerable community members. This was described as a 'precautionary measure' by the practice.
A spokesperson said: "We have requested that all patients should wear a mask or face covering when they attend the surgery. This is a precautionary measure to protect our most vulnerable patients, as well as our staff, as we are entering the autumn season, when viruses such as flu begin to circulate and more patients visit our practice.
"If patients attend who do not have a mask, we can provide one at reception. We would like to reassure patients that no-one will be refused entry or treatment.”
The NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board[5] (LLR ICB) have said that mask wearing is not being introduced across all GP practises in the area[6] and is a decision made by individual centres.
A spokesperson for the ICB said: "The ICB guidance for GP practices across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland advises that mask wearing in clinical areas can be locally risk assessed by individual practices, and it is for each practice to make their own decisions on mask-wearing for staff and face-coverings for patients, as well as all other Covid precautions. This guidance is in line with the current recommendations from NHS England.”
References
- ^ GP surgery (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ mandatory wearing of face masks (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ wear a mask in clinical areas for the first time (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Solar farm law change proposed by Leicestershire MP could cost UK households 'up to £5 billion a year' (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ GP practises in the area (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)