Mask wearing update for December 2025

15 December 2025

Respiratory illnesses are rising across our community, and we are seeing this in our hospitals.

To protect our vulnerable patients and staff, visitors in high-risk patient-facing areas will be required to wear face masks.

These areas include:

• Emergency Department (Adult & Paediatric)
• Surgical Assessment Unit, Maternity Assessment Unit, Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) / Paediatric Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC)
• Eye Casualty
• Medical Assessment Unit
• Clinical areas that care for high-risk patients such as renal, oncology & haematology

To ensure that those who are vulnerable to infections are kept safe, we are advising that you do not visit our hospital if you:

• feel unwell with a cough, cold or flu-like symptoms
• have had diarrhoea or vomiting in the last 48 hours

If you are unsure, please do speak to a member of staff on the ward or department. Face masks and hand-washing facilities are available across the Trust.