Overview

Face mask use

Wearing a mask can significantly lower the risk of infection from airborne pathogens that can be transmitted through our respiratory system. If you have an infection, wearing a face mask reduces the spread of viruses to others. Masks can also protect wearers from breathing in infectious particles from people around them.

As such, it’s mandatory from 1st September 2025 for all our frontline, patient-facing staff and locums to wear a face mask when interacting with patients. This measure is being introduced for individual staff welfare, as well as protecting our patients and your colleagues.

You should also wear a mask when interacting with your team members (e.g. during meetings), to control infections and further prevent risk to your fellow team members.

For non-patient facing staff, we encourage you to use a mask if you’re feeling unwell, to protect your fellow staff.

A number of NHS organisations (see here, and here) have recently mandated mask use for staff in order to improve infection control and protect staff and patients.

When do I need to wear a mask?

• Patient-facing staff should wear a mask any time that you are interacting with patients, i.e.:
• clinicians should wear a mask during consultations
• Welcomes team should wear a mask when interacting with patients at reception
• You do not need to wear a mask if you are working alone for a prolonged period of time

NB. Gaps between patients at reception are probably not long enough to warrant taking off your mask.

• You do not need to wear a mask when you are between sessions or during admin time
• You do not need to wear a mask during your lunch breaks
• Patient-facing staff should wear a mask when meeting colleagues (e.g. clinical meetings), especially if you or your colleague feel as though you may be ill
• Non-patient-facing staff should wear a mask if you’re feeling unwell, especially if you’re meeting colleagues

Annual flu vaccines

In line with NHS guidance, we strongly recommend that all of our staff receive their free annual flu vaccine. Flu vaccines not only protect you from getting ill, but also helps reduce the chance of passing the flu virus on to our patients. Reducing the spread of disease also helps us to maintain adequate staffing levels, reducing pressure on yourself and your colleagues.

You will receive a disclaimer through BambooHR offering you a flu vaccination, to accept or decline. In declining, you confirm that you understand the risks, and agree to exercise other cautions such as social distancing and hand hygiene to prevent the spread of infection.

Hand hygiene

Maintaining proper hand hygiene protocols is another key way that we can reduce the spread of infection in our surgeries.

The five key moments when you should wash your hands are:

1. before touching a patient
2. before a clean / aseptic procedure
3. after body fluid exposure risk
4. after touching a patient
5. after touching patient surroundings

See our 👋Hand Hygiene page for more information about how and when to use hand hygiene protocols.

FAQs