Health care workers. Do you think we will be removing masks end of June?

Emerald82 · 2021-04-29T22:03:39+00:00

All our patients are fully vaccinated, nearly all staff are and we are still wearing visors and masks and all the other PPE when when no cases of covid. I'm dreaming of the day when we can remove our masks! Do you think it will be the end of June? Or will we carry on do you think?

Motorina · 29/04/2021 23:25

I have no idea, but I'm planning a 'pimp my FFP3' fancy dress party when this is all over. I am sick of nose-divots!

Tanfastic · 29/04/2021 23:29

I can't see it, I'm nom patient facing, fully vaccinated, sat two metres apart from colleagues, have weekly Covid tests and screens in the office and I still have to sit for 8 hours a day at my desk with one on and no end in sight according to the big wigs.

Totalbeach · 29/04/2021 23:30

Not this year.

fairgame84 · 29/04/2021 23:35

No.

user1471447924 · 29/04/2021 23:36

No, I expect at least another 12 months.

Trumplosttheelection · 29/04/2021 23:37

No way. Although I have stopped wearing one sitting at my desk. I put it on when a colleague is closer than 2metres

Tanfastic · 29/04/2021 23:42

@Trumplosttheelection

No way. Although I have stopped wearing one sitting at my desk. I put it on when a colleague is closer than 2metres

We aren't even allowed to do that.

Gooseysgirl · 29/04/2021 23:43

Highly unlikely

Topseyt · 30/04/2021 03:18

Sadly, I very much doubt it

20viona · 30/04/2021 03:35

Don't be daft

656times · 30/04/2021 03:50

So very very fucking fed up of the masks but I fear we will have to wear them until at least the vaccination programme is through in what July/Aug?

I’d love not to wear one at work but I’d be prepared to wear one to the supermarket and shops as it’s not all day. Not sure what the retail workers would do though.

Although it makes our lax border controls seem even more ridiculous. Imposition everyone to protect... one industry.

Torvean · 30/04/2021 04:03

Not while GP surgeries remain closed.

In Scoand most ppl age 50 up have had 2 vaccinations.
Ppl in 40s getting first.

I was part of a trail. I believe fully vaccinated by November . If not in crossover.

If I have a reason to see a GP with non Covid symptoms and gave no temp on arrival why can't I see a GP.
I used to see a GP monthly due to complex medical needs and the medication I'm on. During lockdown they've not called me once. I have a medical need where I need seeing in person but they refuse. My dentist has been seeing ppl since January.

I'm getting fed up of 0 Gp care in 14 months. I formally complained to the practice manager got a patronising response.

I've been left with no option but to take it further.
I will get an apology from them for negligence and a lack of care .

Very soon I have access to a AHP, they will make the GP look incompetent. I look forward to this day.

Mummyme87 · 30/04/2021 07:09

Masks in healthcare for the next year I suspect. And then I suspect they will come back during flu season.
I’m midwife in hospital, we only wear surgical masks unless caring for a known covid pos, in which case you can choose to wear FFP3

DinosaurDiana · 30/04/2021 07:12

No, with not everyone vaccinated and a possible Covid booster with flu season coming, I doubt it.
I was told yesterday that they are offering nasal flu up to year 11 this year. I think they are getting ready for a potential surge again.

megletthesecond · 30/04/2021 07:13

dino I hope that's right about year 11's getting the flu spray. DS has always been annoyed he misses it while his younger sister and whole family get it every year.

Original poster

Emerald82 · 30/04/2021 07:17

The heat at work is absolutely unbearable then with masks and visors on top....also so many of our residents can't understand what we are saying. Its wishful thinking on my behalf I think!

OP posts:

RedFrogsRule · 30/04/2021 07:17

@Torvean

Not while GP surgeries remain closed.

In Scoand most ppl age 50 up have had 2 vaccinations.
Ppl in 40s getting first.

I was part of a trail. I believe fully vaccinated by November . If not in crossover.

If I have a reason to see a GP with non Covid symptoms and gave no temp on arrival why can't I see a GP.
I used to see a GP monthly due to complex medical needs and the medication I'm on. During lockdown they've not called me once. I have a medical need where I need seeing in person but they refuse. My dentist has been seeing ppl since January.

I'm getting fed up of 0 Gp care in 14 months. I formally complained to the practice manager got a patronising response.

I've been left with no option but to take it further.
I will get an apology from them for negligence and a lack of care .

Very soon I have access to a AHP, they will make the GP look incompetent. I look forward to this day.

I think this is disgraceful. I work in healthcare and our team has seen non urgent patients face to face since July last year. We now have no waiting list and our service is back to normal. We’ve cared for people, saved lives and functioned exactly as we should.

Anyone shutting their doors is making that a conscious choice and with no need. We use PPE, keep patients outside of buildings until their appointment time, hand gel, temperatures, in and out and no one has caught Covid. We have doubled appointment slots, trimmed all unnecessary work, worked longer days and weekends to get here. It’s not sustainable but nor is it forever and our patients have been looked after.

It’s immoral to stop offering healthcare.

My GP has trained and seen patients throughout. It can be done.

WetJan · 30/04/2021 07:23

I can keep wearing the masks but I can't wait to get rid of the visors. In our trust I'm told to wear a mask, visor, apron and gloves to see patients. I'm psych. We're not even touching the patient, let alone doing any clinical interventions. It's a chat.

TravellingSpoon · 30/04/2021 08:34

I work in social care so slightly different, but we have been told we can ditch scrubs in June, but that masks will be 'the last thing to go', but we havent been given any more info than that.

WetJan · 30/04/2021 08:42

I want to keep scrubs Makes getting ready in the morning so much easier, plus I don't have to shop for clothes thinking about if I can wear it at work too, to make it worth buying.

CovoidOfAllHumanity · 30/04/2021 08:44

Visors are really only useful if you get spat at or it's an AGP. We are not required to wear them unless known Covid positive case or AGP and I'm surprised others have to as routine. We have scrubs, FRS mask, gloves and the silly plastic apron.

I would like to stop wearing the stupid mask on my breaks, when chatting to colleagues in non clinical areas or writing notes in the same room as someone else.
I hope that day comes soon as after a whole day wearing it my ears get sore and my skin is irritated and it surely cannot be doing much good after wearing the same one for a whole shift. I hate to see the waste being generated from all this single use plastic as well and the litter on site.

I wouldn't mind carrying on wearing a mask when examining someone close up but it would really help my rapport with patients if I didn't have to wear it just to consult with them. If they are deaf and need to lip read it's a total disaster or if they have dementia and don't understand they can get scared. For anyone it doesn't aid communication if they can't see half my facial expressions.

DinosaurDiana · 30/04/2021 08:47

The apron is a waste of time in my job. When I sit down I just push it between my legs, it’s a terrible waste of PPE and bad environmentally.

CovoidOfAllHumanity · 30/04/2021 08:57

The apron is nearly my least favourite(close run thing with the mask) . It just feels so completely bloody pointless and I know it's because they don't want to waste gowns. What can a tiny flimsy bit of plastic just covering a bit of your front be doing to help??
I always rip it off the roll badly so half the time I wind up having to tie it behind my neck, then I stand there like a plonker in the street, in the cold with the curtain twitching neighbours watching trying to get the stupid thing to open out and then when I finally get it on it clings round my legs and rustles annoyingly.
Plus the thought of them all choking up landfill and killing dolphins after I bin them saddens me.
I will be so glad to see the back of those bloody things. I think they are worse than the masks.

Our Trust has hilarious nonsense rules about them too. When we had an out break you were not counted as a contact if you were within 2m but wearing the gloves, apron and mask. If you admitted to just wearing the mask suddenly that was a risk unless accompanied by the gloves and apron. Well pretty much 100% of staff and patients got it anyway. So much for the magic of PPE.

CovidHalloween · 30/04/2021 09:02

I changed from being optimistic to being pessimistic about how well we are doing with covid.
There has been local outbreaks around the schools where we love and a restaurant nearby and couple of parents I know have tested positive- all happened this week.
Just when I started to feel like things are looking brighter and safe, you get a reminder that we are not out of this just yet. It is so frustrating.

Original poster

Emerald82 · 30/04/2021 09:13

@TravellingSpoon

I work in social care so slightly different, but we have been told we can ditch scrubs in June, but that masks will be 'the last thing to go', but we havent been given any more info than that.

I work in social care too and we have been told new government guidelines say we now have to wear mask and visor for personal care or any time you get close ie- feeding. This is regardless of if we have positive cases.

OP posts: