10 January 2023

Update on mask wearing and IPC guidance for care home settings in England

COVID-19 England

The Department of Health and Social Care has recently issued updated guidance on mask wearing in care homes in England.

You can now make risk-based decisions on when face masks are used, and care homes can initiate their own outbreak risk assessments to make decisions about which outbreak measures make sense for their individual settings. This now means that the College guidance relating to face coverings is the same in primary care and care home settings in England. Universal masking remains in place in all settings in Scotland. 

Latest surveillance from UKHSA suggests that levels of flu and COVID-19 are increasing, so it is vital you continue to maintain high standards of infection prevention controls to keep settings safe and reduce the risk of transmission. 

What the Guidance says

Section B39 in the Guidance for Professional Practice states that you should wear a Fluid Resident Surgical Face Mask (FRSM Type IIR) when: 

  1. Performing procedures when in close proximity to the patient
  2. You consider there is a risk of respiratory infection
  3. There is a public health requirement to wear one, such as during a pandemic, unless the mask type specified by the relevant national or local public health guidance recommends an alternative specification and level of protection.

Useful links

This article was correct at time of publication. 

Related news

CCEHC writes to NHS England regarding the Special School Eye Care Service
Children CCEHC England

Supporting optometrists in their vaccine decisions
COVID-19 Policy Public health

Scottish Government withdraws COVID-19 specific face mask-wearing guidance
COVID-19 Public health Scotland

Related further reading

Guest editorial: Transitioning to new ways of working

As society continues to open up, the Optometry in Practice editorial board thought it opportune to reflect on the experiences of the pandemic to date and assess the impact on both eyecare professionals and our patients.

Contact lenses COVID-19

How respiratory viruses affect the eye

It is rare for respiratory viruses to cause eye infections, writes Kim Thomas, but they may use the eye as a portal of entry. And what is the mechanism behind their travel to the respiratory system?

COVID-19 Public health

Bouncing back

The College’s Clinical Editor on renewed excitement and optimism in the profession.

COVID-19 Policy