• No longer necessary for staff, patients or visitors to wear face masks routinely
• People may choose to wear them at their own discretion
• Some infections may mean patients and staff need to wear masks

People attending Bolton NHS Foundation Trust sites will no longer routinely need to wear masks from Monday 24 April 2023.

Following the successful roll-out of the vaccine roll-out and as the impact of Covid-19 lessens, the need for routine mask wearing is no longer required to ensure the safety of patients, visitors and staff.

However, there are cases where masks may still be required:

• If a patient has an infection where a mask would limit its spread
• If patients or staff choose to wear one at their own discretion
• If a patient has an infection where a mask would protect a member of staff
• Any procedures which would better ensure the safety of staff members

Tyrone Roberts, Chief Nurse at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said:

We are in a position where masks are no longer needed routinely.

“We always try to do our best to ensure your safety and that of our staff, so in some instances wearing a mask will still be needed.

“However, in most cases wearing a mask will be your personal choice; if you feel you would like to wear a mask then please feel free to continue to do so.

“We look forward to seeing more of your faces in full next time you use our services.

The use of masks became a powerful tool in reducing the spread of Covid-19 during the pandemic but are no longer required currently due to the success of the vaccine roll-out.

Routine mask use may be re-introduced in individual departments and services in response to local Covid-19 numbers.

Find out more about the services we provide.