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Original poster

Hospital patients refusing to wear masks

68 replies

Bloodybridget · 05/01/2021 11:55

Reading the i newspaper this morning, there's a column by an advanced clinical practitioner, working in A&E, where she says "What I can't understand is people who refuse to acknowledge that Covid is a danger. Some patients won't wear masks in hospital. We ask them to, for the sake of others, and they say: "I don't believe in Covid, so I don't need to wear a mask."

I get that this must be a tiny minority of patients, but honestly, should hospitals allow mask refusers to stay on the premises, endangering staff and other patients? Can't they just say, whatever you believe, you have to wear one? Any HCPs here come across this attitude?

OP posts:
JamieLeesCurtains · 05/01/2021 12:00

I saw a man being told to put a mask on it leave the building recently by a hospital phlebotomist, god love her. He put the mask on.

There was no security about, which wasn't good.

Lou98 · 05/01/2021 12:10

I may be wrong but I thought that the rules were once you were admitted in as a patient (staying in) that you didn't need to wear a mask? Just if you were in the hospital for any other reason than staying in.

I may be wrong about that, only time I've been to the hospital since all this is for my 12 week baby scan and everyone had a mask on but I'd thought if you were actually a patient it was a rule you never had to

lilbumblebee · 05/01/2021 12:12

@Lou98 in my ward which is medical receiving, the patients don't need to wear a mask once they're on the ward as we're all masked up. They just need to wear a mask when going for scans etc

Original poster
Bloodybridget · 05/01/2021 12:29

But in A&E, surely everyone should wear one? Or if you're in a bay maybe it doesn't matter so much.

OP posts:
FedUpAtHomeTroels · 05/01/2021 12:55

I've been in for three outpatient procedures, had to wear a mask the whole time I was in the building and during the procedures. As did the doctor and the nurses.
I'm with the phlebotomist who said mask on or leave the building.
They can take their I don't believe someplace else, the world doesn't revolved around them.

Crappyfridays7 · 05/01/2021 13:01

Paeds - parent with child needs to wear mask if nurse is in bed area children don’t wear them unless going down to theatre if they are able. But everyone else has to wear them in the hospital corridors etc you can’t wander round the ward no playroom etc it’s really rubbish just now for the kids as they don’t always understand & our play staff are working hard trying to find resources to entertain kids especially those in for more than a few days.

Phlip · 05/01/2021 13:24

My sister is a nurse who works in a clinic doing very close treatment. A mask refuser stormed out when she sternly asked him to wear one. He then complained. She was made, by her manager, who never sees the public, to apologise and treat him unmasked. Once a week, every week. She is also vulnerable.

RandomMess · 05/01/2021 15:10

I was in an A&E bay and not asked to wear one, only when wheeled off for scans etc

GhostPepperTears · 05/01/2021 15:39

Like so many people, I have loved ones working in hospitals (nurses, in their case). I worry every day for them and see the impact this is having on their mental and physical health.

It is truly awful to me that, regardless of someone's personal stance on covid, that they would not do this one simple thing to help the people that care for them - if they can (I realise not everyone can).

RedMarauder · 05/01/2021 15:43

I agree with the phlebotomist as well.

If you don't believe in Covid then the staff have an ethical right not to treat you.

FromTheAshes · 05/01/2021 15:48

I had to make an unplanned weekend trip to my local hospital to drop off a urine sample. They insisted my 3yo daugter wore a mask (fine, if it was a planned trip I'd have known and provided something) but they only had large adult ones which were too big even for me. The bloody thing kept falling on the floor, needing to be repositioned, she fiddled with it, I fiddled with it, we got shouted at when she was seen not wearing it (it had fallen off... again...) I swear it did more harm than good.

StatisticalSense · 05/01/2021 15:51

I don't think we should be expecting people to be acting rationally when many of them are going to be in extreme pain and scared about whatever illness they already have. Obviously relatives who won't wear a mask should be told to leave but it should be completely unacceptable to treat patients in such a way considering it has long been accepted that people can act out of character and when severely ill.

JanuaryChill · 05/01/2021 15:59

I can't believe this, truly shocking:

My sister is a nurse who works in a clinic doing very close treatment. A mask refuser stormed out when she sternly asked him to wear one. He then complained. She was made, by her manager, who never sees the public, to apologise and treat him unmasked. Once a week, every week. She is also vulnerable

DingerDoo · 05/01/2021 16:00

I was behind someone at a train station when the uniformed staff asked someone to put one on and she just said that she didn't believe in Covid19. She wasn't allowed to enter until she put one on so she did

Original poster
Bloodybridget · 05/01/2021 16:07

Interesting comments, thanks. @StatisticalSense, I don't really buy the "ill and scared so acting out of character". Someone who says they don't believe in Covid is not, presumably, acting out of character temporarily.

OP posts:
AwaAnBileYerHeid · 05/01/2021 16:18

Mask refusers (not those unable to wear them but unwilling) are actually disgusting. I'm a MH Nurse, I recently had to take one of our patients from the dementia unit where I work, to a general hospital for a surgical procedure. Despite this man being 90 odd, in the early stages of dementia, with other comorbidities as well, he insisted that he wear a mask the entire trip - during the patient transport ride, in the hospital etc. Because he wanted not only to stick to the rules but to protect other people. If he can do it, then so can they. Shame on them.

Hoppinggreen · 05/01/2021 16:21

I had to take DD to A&E about a month ago. We wore masks
A man limped in and the Receptionist asked him to put on a mask. He replied he was exempt and didnt have to say why and she wasn’t allowed to ask him.
Probably true but we kept well away from him

iVampire · 05/01/2021 16:25

No one’s reasonable adjustment is act reasonable if it poses significant risk to others

Vulnerable people have to attend hospital (emergency or for their more routine treatment) and deserve to do be able to do so with minimal risk

It is a necessary for hospitals to rearrange services so that those who are not wearing masks can be managed without endangering others

EachDubh · 05/01/2021 16:25

Some people are truly selfish and care nothing for others. My dd was in for suspected appendicitus and wore a mask the whole time without complaint even in extreme pain. Perhaps no face to face treatment if you refuse to wear a mask when medically able might change their minds.

justchecking1 · 05/01/2021 16:31

Not believing in COVID is a BS excuse.

No one's asking you to believe in COVID, they're asking you to wear a mask. I don't care if you believe in it or not.

YesMeLady · 05/01/2021 16:36

If they dont believe in covid then presumably they will refuse the vaccine and all treatment if they do catch it.

Orf1abc · 05/01/2021 16:49

A man limped in and the Receptionist asked him to put on a mask. He replied he was exempt and didnt have to say why and she wasn’t allowed to ask him.
Probably true but we kept well away from him

You are supposed to be social distancing, hopefully you're keeping well away from everyone.

HyacynthBucket · 05/01/2021 16:51

[Phlip]
That is truly dreadful. What kind of employer would act like that? Does your friend have a union? She should challenge this straight away for her own safety. Also take it higher up the managerial scale. It is completely unacceptable for her to be at unnecessary risk from idiots.

HyacynthBucket · 05/01/2021 16:57

What I do not understand about covid deniers and those who won't wear masks is - yes, they have their belief about the virus, but they cannot be totally and 100% certain that they are right about it. So, as there is an element of doubt, however small they think it might be, surely they have a responsibility to protect others against the risk that must exist, as they cannot for certain that they are right, they just hope they are. Anyone who defiantly refuses to wear a mask though able to do so, is beneath contempt to me, and also defies rationality,

lockeddownandcrazy · 05/01/2021 16:59

@DingerDoo

I was behind someone at a train station when the uniformed staff asked someone to put one on and she just said that she didn't believe in Covid19. She wasn't allowed to enter until she put one on so she did
Brilliant - should be the same everywhere - supermarkets etc . No mask no admit.