Trust rules state they are required for the protection of all staff and patients.
The Prime Minister has come under fire for not wearing a mask while meeting staff during a hospital visit yesterday.
While visiting Hexham General Hospital yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson failed to wear a mask while meeting hospital staff despite trust rules stating they are required for the protection of all staff and patients.
Rules on the hospital’s website state; “Please wash your hands at the hospital entrance and wear a face covering when you enter the hospital until you leave.
“If you have not got a face covering a surgical mask will be supplied. There are also hand-sanitising points around the hospital – please feel free to use them.
You must ensure that you wear your covering or mask throughout your visit and you must not remove your face covering/mask or kiss your loved one.”
Breaking the rules?
There are so many people dying of Covid in my trust right now. It makes the sight of @BorisJohnson – casually strolling without a mask through Hexham General Hospital today – absolutely sickening. pic.twitter.com/SZmLLyKfm3
— Rachel Clarke (@doctor_oxford) November 8, 2021
Parading around a hospital without a mask.
Nursing staff took to Twitter following the incident to express their upset at Mr Johnson’s reluctance to follow the rules.
Nursing and other hospital staff on the images are seen following the correct infection prevention and control procedures.
Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth responded on social media to the images; “So not only is Boris Johnson too cowardly to turn up to Parliament to defend the sleazy corrupt government shenanigans of recent days.
“He’s now irresponsibly parading round a hospital without a mask. Patients and NHS staff deserve better than this.”
Downing Street and the trust have since defended Mr Johnson. A Downing Street spokesman said: “I am confident he will have abided by the rules in place.”
A spokesperson for Northumbria NHS trust said the PM had “followed strict measures, including wearing a mask, in each clinical area he visited.”
