Face masks will be reintroduced in North Wales Hospitals starting next week due to an increase in winter respiratory infections.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board( BCUHB) has announced that masks will need to be worn by all visitors, patients and staff, unless exempt, from Monday, November 14.

This extends to all health board sites, which includes Glan Clwyd Hospital, Ysbyty Gwynedd, Wrexham Maelor Hospital, and all community hospitals across north Wales, including outpatient appointments, GP Practices, and health centres.

The health board has however said that visiting arrangements are not changing at present. This means that they will not need individual screening or triaging in most areas and that if visitors are attending a patient with an infection or a care area with infectious patients, they will be made aware of any infection risks and offered appropriate personal protective equipment.

If a visitor or members of their household have clinical features suggestive of respiratory infections or other infections, they have been asked to not attend.

BCUHB also asks that visitors wash their hands regularly and use of the available alcohol gel, practice good respiratory hygiene i.e. ‘Catch it, bin it, kill it approach’, and wear a facemask and recommended other personal protective equipment as advised and provided by clinical staff.

READ MORE:

The health board has also said that an individualised risk assessment and decision should be made by the ward manager in relation to children visiting.

If a ward gets closed due to an outbreak, then visiting will only be considered under exceptional circumstances such as if a patient is receiving end-of-life care and has dementia or learning disabilities.

The health board posted: “We know it is important for our patients to receive visits from their loved ones. As a Health Board, we expect the support and respect of our visitors to maintain the safety of our patients by following the visiting measures in place at the time.”