Following an update in national guidance and local risk assessment, from next Tuesday 6 September mask wearing has been reviewed. The following will apply:

• Patients and visitors attending appointments at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust are no longer required to wear a face mask unless they have respiratory symptoms.
• If attending the Emergency Department or Urgent Treatment Centre with symptoms of a respiratory tract infection, such as coughing and sneezing, we request that you wear a mask if you are able to.
• Patients who are clinically extremely vulnerable, such as immunosuppressed, will be encouraged to continue to wear a mask for both inpatient and outpatient visits to protect themselves.
• Visitors attending clinically extremely vulnerable or respiratory patients should wear a mask to protect themselves and others.
• If it is your personal preference to wear a mask, we will continue to make them available for you.
• If you have respiratory symptoms or symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting, unless you are attending the Emergency Department or have an urgent appointment, we would encourage you not to visit Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust until your symptoms resolve.

Lisa Carroll, Walsall Healthcare Director of Nursing, said: “Removing the requirement to wear masks may be welcomed by some, but others may wish to continue wearing a mask – especially in busy areas or when in close proximity to others. This is down to personal choice and we will support and respect everyone’s preferences. Mask wearing will be kept under regular review.

“Masks will still be available from the Trust and we are still asking that people continue to help us all keep the environment as safe as possible by not coming into our hospital if they have COVID-19 or flu like symptoms and continuing to wash their hands regularly.

“We’d like to thank our communities for their ongoing support.”