Masks still required in 'clinical areas' at Letterkenny hospital

The wearing of face coverings remains a requirement in clinical areas of Letterkenny University Hospital.

The mandatory wearing of masks in hospitals and other healthcare areas officially came to an end on Wednesday, following a recommendation by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

The HPSC added that masks should still be worn ‘for interaction with patients with respiratory viral symptoms’.

The HPSC said it was up to each individual hospital on how to apply the recommendation.

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Donegal Live understands that nurse managers have been advised by senior management at LUH that face coverings are still a requirement in all clinical areas, including wards and the outpatients department.

“Across the Saolta University Health Care Group, local risk assessments are being carried out where appropriate to inform when to stop using face masks in each setting,” a spokesperson said,

“In settings where face masks are not deemed necessary, staff will not be required to wear them, but may choose to do so. Surgical and respirator masks will continue to be available to healthcare workers in all settings.

“The transition from routine mask use to risk based mask use is a major change. Some staff members and patients may wish to take some additional time to feel comfortable with the change.”

The spokesperson said that all hospitals in the Saolta Group will continue to provide masks to those who prefer to wear them.”

LUH staff are understood to have been informed that updated guidance will ‘follow’.

As of Tuesday evening, there were 13 confirmed cases of Covid-19 at LUH, none of whom were in the intensive care unit.

The mandatory use of face personal protective equipment (PPE) in hospital and healthcare settings was introduced in 2020 in a bid to halt the spread of Covid-19.

In another change to Covid regulations, the HSE now recommends that anyone with symptoms limit their interaction with other people and stay at home until 48 hours after their symptoms have subsided.

The online portals for booking PCR tests or ordering antigen tests have closed.