The Mater Hospital has scrapped mandatory mask-wearing rules for patients and visitors - while staff are only required to have a face-covering in clinical areas such as in the wards, or in the emergency department.
Doctors and nurses can remove their masks in the break room, during education sessions and while walking through the public areas of the hospital. However, they must wear one when dealing with patients or providing care.
A memorandum that was sent to staff members on Monday said the hospital had adopted a “new approach”.
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In the message which was seen by Dublin Live, it states: “On the circulation of this memo, a new approach to the wearing of masks has been approved in the Mater.
“In line with national guidelines, masks are no longer required in non-patient areas.”
The memo which was written by Consultant Microbiologist Dr. Deirdre Brady added: “If you ordinarily work in a non-mask-wearing area but must attend an area where clinical care is being delivered, please don a mask either before or on arrival in that area.
“Questions have been raised about e.g. care being delivered in what is ordinarily a public space such as at times of high Emergency Department activity. Staff are permitted to transit through these spaces without donning a mask but those delivering care to patients in these spaces must wear a mask.”
The letter said staff or patients can still wear a face-covering in all areas of the hospital if they want. It concluded by encouraging staff to inform their colleagues about the change in policy in a bid to “prevent negative personal interactions on the basis of mask use.”
A Mater Hospital spokesperson confirmed the move, saying: “Patient and staff safety is our main priority at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.
“As part of the transition to living with Covid, and in line with national guidelines, the Mater Hospital is implementing a new policy in relation to mask-wearing in non-clinical areas.
“Staff are no longer required to wear masks in non-clinical parts of the hospital, including offices, breakout rooms, multi-disciplinary rooms, the pharmacy, labs, education rooms, and while in transit through public areas of the hospital.
“Patients and visitors are no longer required to wear a mask, but they may of course do so, if they wish.
“Staff who are delivering clinical care or working in parts of the hospital where clinical care is being delivered, such as the Emergency Department, wards, clinics, theatres, and radiology, must continue to wear masks as per the direction from the Chief Clinical Officer.”
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