Royal Bolton Hospital makes face masks mandatory in wards as Covid and flu cases rise

Royal Bolton Hospital has made face masks mandatory in its inpatient areas from Friday 30 October. Staff, patients and visitors must wear a fluid-resistant surgical mask on wards and in clinical areas.

The hospital described the situation as ‘high risk’ as Covid-19 and flu cases rise.

The figures

At the end of October, the hospital recorded 210 positive patient tests for Covid-19 or flu. The average for September was 51. More people are also attending the Emergency Department with respiratory symptoms, the hospital says.

Wendy McNair, infection prevention and control service lead at the hospital, said: “We are seeing an increase in attendances for respiratory viruses. We are seeing patients coming to A&E quite poorly with chest infections and we have got the occasional outbreaks on wards as well.”

What visitors are asked to do

Masks are available throughout the hospital. People are asked to put one on at the entrance to a ward or clinical area and wash their hands.

The mask must cover both nose and mouth and stay in place while speaking. It should be thrown away after use, not reused.

McNair also stressed the value of the flu vaccine. “It’s really important for people to get vaccinated. It limits the severity of any illness you get and the likelihood of you carrying it home to vulnerable people. It’s about not just protecting yourself but protecting your family,” she said.

All frontline NHS staff have been offered the seasonal flu vaccine.

Measure under review

Tyrone Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said the hospital was seeing a high number of flu cases. He called the mask requirement a temporary measure.

“We will continue to monitor infection levels closely and keep the requirement under regular review over the next few days,” Roberts said.