The additional infection prevention and control measure is being re-introduced due to an increase in respiratory illnesses such as Influenza A in the county’s hospitals and community settings.
Everyone will be asked to wear a hospital-provided type II R surgical face mask, unless medically exempt, when attending any clinical areas at:
- Lincoln County Hospital
- Pilgrim Hospital, Boston
- Grantham and District Hospital
- County Hospital, Louth
- John Coupland Hospital, Gainsborough
- Skegness Hospital
- Johnson Community Hospital, Spalding
- Grantham Community Diagnostic Centre
- Skegness Community Diagnostic Centre
- Lincoln Community Diagnostic Centre
- Other community-based clinics or settings run by Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group.
The masks will be available at all main entrances and at locations throughout the sites.
Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group Chief Nursing Officer, Nerea Odongo, said: “We continually review the infection prevention and control measures in place in our hospitals and community sites. We occasionally put additional precautions in place as necessary to protect our patients, staff and other visitors.
“We are currently seeing an increase in Influenza A in hospitals and community settings in Lincolnshire. We have therefore made the decision to re-introduce face masks to all clinical areas of our hospitals and community sites.
“We ask people to be respectful in supporting us to uphold these important safety standards to protect those around us and provide others with the confidence that they can continue to access services safely.
“We would also ask anyone who is eligible to consider getting their flu vaccination as soon as possible this winter.”
Visitors to the hospitals, community diagnostic centres and other community settings are also reminded:
- If you are unwell, please don’t visit until you are feeling better. If you have symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting, please do not visit until you have been clear of these symptoms for at least 72 hours.
- Hand hygiene continues to be very important. Please ensure you regularly use alcohol hand rub available to clean your hands both before and after you visit a loved one. Hand rub dispensers can be found at the entrance to each ward in our hospitals.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after going to the toilet, to prevent the spread of infections.