This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Protect the NHS and All Healthcare: Require #MasksInHealthcare
We urge the Government to implement a policy requiring mask wearing in all healthcare settings including hospitals, clinics and GP practices for staff, visitors and patients. An FFP2 minimum should be mandated, to protect against infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
More details
Vulnerable patients, such as the elderly, individuals with weakened immune systems, and those undergoing treatments, are at higher risk of severe illness or death from infectious diseases.
Requiring everyone in healthcare settings to wear masks is a crucial preventive measure to reduce the spread of diseases, including COVID-19, and protect patients from airborne infections.
Masks act as a barrier, preventing transmission and safeguarding the health of patients and healthcare workers alike.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 7 November 2023
The Government does not plan to implement a policy requiring mask wearing in all healthcare settings. NHS England sets policy on mask wearing in healthcare settings, informed by scientific evidence.
The UK Government currently has no plans to implement a policy requiring everyone in healthcare settings to wear masks.
The Government’s policy on mask-wearing and other matters relating to infection prevention and control is informed by evidence-based advice from subject matter experts in the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England (NHSE).
NHSE published the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) (https://www.england.nhs.uk/national-infection-prevention-and-control-manual-nipcm-for-england/) in April 2022. This manual is an evidence-based guide for use by all those involved in healthcare provision. The NIPCM is mandatory across NHSE or settings where NHSE services are delivered and is complemented by pathogen/disease specific guidance produced by UKHSA.
The process to develop the evidence base for the NIPCM is published at NHS England » National infection prevention and control manual: Methodology (https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.england.nhs.uk%2Flong-read%2Fnational-infection-prevention-and-control-manual-methodology%2F&data=05%7C01%7CAndy.Gardiner%40dhsc.gov.uk%7C90134551cdf4452a368e08db09ed942a%7C61278c3091a84c318c1fef4de8973a1c%7C1%7C0%7C638114688977149381%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=VNyellS6I8%2BpWc5lqzZeZkn18iO%2FpJy4JV9%2BVSqs9vc%3D&reserved=0). The NIPCM outlines evidence-based standards and transmission-based infection and prevention mitigations. Recommendations regarding the use of face masks in the NIPCM are informed by a literature review conducted by Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) Scotland (https://www.nipcm.hps.scot.nhs.uk/media/2113/2022-01-06-surgical-masks-sicps-and-tbps-v20-final.pdf).
Section 1.4 (https://www.england.nhs.uk/national-infection-prevention-and-control-manual-nipcm-for-england/chapter-1-standard-infection-control-precautions-sicps/#1-4) and section 2.4 (https://www.england.nhs.uk/national-infection-prevention-and-control-manual-nipcm-for-england/chapter-2-transmission-based-precautions-tbps/#2-4) of the NIPCM outline the standard infection control precautions and the transmission-based precautions. These standards inform staff in the appropriate use of fluid-resistant surgical masks and respiratory protective equipment. Risk assessments in healthcare settings inform mask usage and other transmission-based precautions in line with a hierarchy of controls.
The NIPCM does not require patients or visitors to NHS settings to routinely wear a face mask. However, there are some circumstances where it is recommended that patients and visitors to care settings wear masks. For example, universal masking should be considered in settings where patients are at high risk of infection due to immunosuppression, for example in oncology or haematology. This should be guided by local risk assessment with any additional infection prevention and control measures beyond those outlined in the NIPCM applied at local discretion.
The current guidance for face masks and Personal Protective Equipment allows for a risk-based approach. It provides guidance on how providers can ensure that measures put in place are effective, proportionate and appropriate to protect those most at risk of severe outcomes from respiratory infections. UKHSA and NHSE continuously monitor COVID-19 infection rates amongst healthcare workers in England and review, update and publish appropriate guidance based on the scientific evidence.
NHSE continually reviews the evidence and data published by international and national sources to inform the NIPCM.
Department of Health and Social Care
This is a revised response. The Petitions Committee requested a response which more directly addressed the request of the petition. You can find the original response towards the bottom of the petition page (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/636380)
Related activity
Petitions Committee requests a revised response from the Government
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Original Government response
NHS England continually reviews the evidence to ensure published guidance regarding the use of face masks is appropriate and proportionate to the risk from infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
NHS England (NHSE) published the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) - https://www.england.nhs.uk/national-infection-prevention-and-control-manual-nipcm-for-england/ in April 2022. This manual is an evidence-based guide for use by all those involved in healthcare provision. The NIPCM is mandatory across NHSE or settings where NHSE services are delivered and is complemented by pathogen/disease specific guidance produced by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The process to develop the evidence base for the NIPCM is published at NHS England » National infection prevention and control manual: Methodology - https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.england.nhs.uk%2Flong-read%2Fnational-infection-prevention-and-control-manual-methodology%2F&data=05%7C01%7CAndy.Gardiner%40dhsc.gov.uk%7C90134551cdf4452a368e08db09ed942a%7C61278c3091a84c318c1fef4de8973a1c%7C1%7C0%7C638114688977149381%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=VNyellS6I8%2BpWc5lqzZeZkn18iO%2FpJy4JV9%2BVSqs9vc%3D&reserved=0. The NIPCM outlines evidence-based standards and transmission-based infection and prevention mitigations. Recommendations regarding the use of face masks in the NIPCM are informed by a literature review conducted by Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) Scotland https://www.nipcm.hps.scot.nhs.uk/media/2113/2022-01-06-surgical-masks-sicps-and-tbps-v20-final.pdf.
Section 1.4 https://www.england.nhs.uk/national-infection-prevention-and-control-manual-nipcm-for-england/chapter-1-standard-infection-control-precautions-sicps/#1-4 and Section 2.4 https://www.england.nhs.uk/national-infection-prevention-and-control-manual-nipcm-for-england/chapter-2-transmission-based-precautions-tbps/#2-4 of the NIPCM outline the standard infection control precautions and the transmission-based precautions. These standards inform staff in the appropriate use of fluid-resistant surgical masks and respiratory protective equipment. Risk assessments in healthcare settings inform mask usage and other transmission-based precautions in line with a hierarchy of controls.
The NIPCM does not require patients or visitors to NHS settings to routinely wear a face mask. However, there are some circumstances where it is recommended that patients and visitors to care settings wear masks. For example, universal masking should be considered in settings where patients are at high risk of infection due to immunosuppression, for example in oncology or haematology. This should be guided by local risk assessment with any additional infection prevention and control measures beyond those outlined in the NIPCM applied at local discretion.
The current guidance for face masks and Personal Protective Equipment allows for a risk-based approach. It provides guidance on how providers can ensure that measures put in place are effective, proportionate and appropriate to protect those most at risk of severe outcomes from respiratory infections. UKHSA and NHSE continuously monitor COVID-19 infection rates amongst healthcare workers in England and review, update and publish appropriate guidance based on the scientific evidence.
NHSE continually reviews the evidence and data published by international and national sources to inform the NIPCM.
Department of Health and Social Care
This response was given on 19 October 2023. The Petitions Committee then requested a revised response, that more directly addressed the request of the petition.