Cloth mask not allowed in hospital

[MRex]

Is this new today or just the person on the hospital door's rules? I went in wearing my fresh cloth mask and was asked to change it for a disposable paper mask (standard blue one).

The phlebotomist was very upset because he's come across several covid deniers this weekend. Such a shame people feel the need to be dickheads towards those putting their lives at risk to help people get well.

[Baaaahhhhh]

DM's care home always ask you to put on their surgical ones. I think it is fine for hospital and care home visits, but I must admit that when I see in France and Italy, the majority of people wearing disposables whilst out and about it makes me sad from an environmental point of view.

[Heyahun]

Yeah Myself and my husband have been at the hospital a few times for my 12 & 20 week scans - we had to sanitise hands and swap to disposable masks provided by hospital - guess your own mask could have germs on it or something?

[ChasingRainbows19]

Our infection control have in the last few weeks stated only medical masks for patients/visitors etc. New rule.

[PrayingandHoping]

I was in our area hospital last week and just wore a standard face covering. Nothing was said

Sounds like an area thing....

[MRex]

I've bought some disposables now, I don't like the waste for general use (and prefer my more robust filter) but I'd rather not use up NHS supplies unnecessarily.

[Legoandloldolls]

You could fabric at my hospital last week. It was deserted so I would have been noticed

[movingonup20]

Just a a pack of 50 from amazon for £7.99, worth having some disposable ones in. Drs lets cloth one but a&e provided surgical

[ginghamtablecloths]

I went into Bloods to give a sample with a cloth mask a week ago and wasn't challenged. They had disposable ones in a 'help yourself' dispenser by the door as well as hand sanitiser.

[m0therofdragons]

You arrive in a cloth one then if you have a clinical appointment you’re likely to be asked to change for a surgical one. Clinical appointments are different to visiting and it’s to protect the clinician when in close proximity.

[TheGreatWave]

I wasn't challenged when I went to pick up MIL, though I was asked to don an apron and gloves.

[Ginfordinner]

@MRex

Thanks all. It makes sense to be sure everyone's in a good mask, I know mine's fresh with a fresh filter but nobody else does. Just wondered if it was a new rule everywhere, just my trust, or just someone being suspicious of everyone's masks.
I'm not sure now if we should buy some disposables for hospital trips, or just use theirs. I'll see if there are very small packs for sale.

Packs of 5 disposable masks are available everywhere.

[Sandytoes86]

*can’t !

[Sandytoes86]

They can be sure yours is clean

[Sandytoes86]

A&E replaced our cloth masks with their disposable ones . Makes sense

[GreySkyClouds]

@MRex

Is this new today or just the person on the hospital door's rules? I went in wearing my fresh cloth mask and was asked to change it for a disposable paper mask (standard blue one).

The phlebotomist was very upset because he's come across several covid deniers this weekend. Such a shame people feel the need to be dickheads towards those putting their lives at risk to help people get well.

Standard each time I’ve been to hospital over the past few months.

Most cloth masks look really pretty but are ineffective (without supplementary filters).

[MRex]

Thanks all. It makes sense to be sure everyone's in a good mask, I know mine's fresh with a fresh filter but nobody else does. Just wondered if it was a new rule everywhere, just my trust, or just someone being suspicious of everyone's masks.
I'm not sure now if we should buy some disposables for hospital trips, or just use theirs. I'll see if there are very small packs for sale.

[MiddleClassMother]

I went just yesterday to drop off my DM (fell and broke her wrist) with a cloth mask and no one challenged me. I prefer the reusable ones as they're better for the environment.

[Bwlch]

I had an appointment yesterday afternoon. My (three layer) cloth mask wasn't commented on.

[Esmeralda1988]

I was asked to swap mine at hospital for a surgical one when it first came in.

[LabradorGalore]

Cloth masks not allowed in our two local hospitals. They have given me the hospital grade blue ones when I wear a cloth mask at the hospital. And that’s been the case for the last four months

[ChocoholicMama]

Fairly recent change in our hospital too.

[Numberblock7]

Standard at my local hospital. Some cloth ones are very flimsy/only 1 layer etc, I guess this way they know, in a fairly key environment, that everyone is wearing a something that meets a minimum standard.

[Gimbap]

Not new, I had that a while back, they don't know what your mask is like, when you cleaned it etc

[LangClegsInSpace]

This was the case when visiting DM in hospital in August. Even people who turned up in a blue paper mask were asked to put on one of theirs. I suppose it's so they know it's a clean one.

[Seeline]

I spent an afternoon in A&E with my elderly mum last week. We were both wearing home made cloth masks - one of the staff complimented my mum on how pretty hers was! No request to replace with disposables.