COVID-19 measures such as face masks and testing at St Mary’s Hospital and across the Isle of Wight NHS Trust are to remain in place, it has been confirmed.
The Government announced earlier this week that England will remove all remaining domestic COVID-19 restrictions from tomorrow (Thursday 24th February). This will include the requirement to self-isolate. Those suspected of having COVID are being urged to stay at home, although that guidance is expected to be dropped from 1st April.
Despite the changes and an effort to return life to normal, the infection prevention and control measures for healthcare settings, including St. Mary’s Hospital and its community-based locations, remain in place.
Patients and visitors at St Mary’s are still being expected to wear face masks and take a Lateral Flow Test within 24 hours prior to visiting the hospital.
Patients on certain wards that have been in hospital for over 7 days will continue to be permitted just 1 designated visitor for 1 hour a day.
There has been no mention from the Trust as to whether the security guards – or stewards as they prefer to be known – will remain on the entrance doors.
Juliet Pearce, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and AHPs, has said:
“It is important to remember that in order to protect vulnerable patients, there is separate guidance for healthcare settings to ensure those most at risk, are protected from COVID-19. The NHS has important measures in place to protect those in its care, such as our staff carrying out regular testing and face masks being required, and these remain in place from Thursday.
Article continues below this advertisement “As COVID-19 restrictions change, we would like to thank everyone who has followed the guidance and come forward for their vaccinations. Those actions have made a positive difference to our community.”
It’s unclear when – or if – things will return to normal at St Mary’s, although another change in guidance from 1st April may prompt restrictions to finally be lifted after more than 2 years.
Good, common sense has prevailed.
So, are they going to provide free LFT’s for visitors after they become chargeable as THEY are the ones insisting on them?
In all honesty, it can be expensive enough visiting St Marys as it is!
So someone tell me..flue had same affect on vunerable groups pre covid
And its flue for most any way…now cold like let’s be honest
No masks or these hitler hospital rules then?
Its not law and point of jab was again?
We NEVER USED masks before .loads dont even wear them correctly or are even clean .cloth ones are useless .a proven fact.
People at risk do whatever they did too protect from colds and flue as slways have.
Im better noone wore a face nappy! Jabbed or not..flue or not..still pass it.never been ANY different .so cotton wool wrapping now is over the top
Please go back to school and relearn the English language before you end up hurting yourself. Then go learn some history while your at it.The Nazi’s wouldn’t of enforced masks mandates and vaccines for the sake of the sick, they euthanized the weak and infirm. This hyperbole over simple hygiene and safety is ridiculous.
Disgraceful decision when there are NHS staff that refuse to be vaccinated and the great majority of people who will need to go into the hospital will have had all their jabs. The Trust should be ashamed of themselves as in the last 2 years lots of people have got Covid from hospitals
I think we should have to take lag flow tests and absolutely wear masks and aprons/gloves too when visiting. I’m not in favour of not isolating in any way or anything I think it’s ludicrous. I just think we could move a little in line with the new guidance that’s all as our elders are confused enough and we shouldn’t be putting them through necessary pain when everywhere else is lightening their rules