Face Coverings – Important update from Monday 27th July

At Chipping Norton Health Centre from Monday 27th July we will be recommending that patients wear a face covering when visiting the Health Centre. This is due to increased footfall, the potential of a 2nd peak of COVID-19 and the onset of Autumn, a time when people experience more generalised coughs and sneezes. This is not compulsory but recommended, therefore this will not be enforced. The government rules regarding ‘exceptions’ for wearing face coverings will apply.

The health centre will only provide surgical masks to patients where necessary for the appropriate consultations.

When the pharmacy re-opens (no set date as yet) face coverings will be mandatory, as it is a shop however, face coverings will remain recommended only not mandatory within the health centre unless government guidelines change.

Our front of house non-clinical staff will not be wearing face coverings if they are behind the Perspex screens but will be wearing them when interacting with patients in other areas of the health centre.

We acknowledge that guidance changes and we will review our processes and risk assessment if new guidance regarding face coverings being mandatory within primary care is issued by the government, but at present this is not the case.

Do you feel you should be exempt from wearing a face covering in public spaces where the government have advised you should? Follow this link for advice regarding exemption cards

The government website Staying safe outside of your home explains government guidance with regards to face coverings.

Further government advice regarding face coverings can be found here.

And the below links will explain face coverings and their use, in relation to other public places

Face coverings and public transport

Face coverings and secondary care

Face coverings in an educational setting