Social distancing and face coverings to remain at Swindon NHS sites

By Barrie Hudson - 16 July 2021

Health

All Swindon NHS locations are to keep social distancing and face coverings from Monday.

Visitors to GP surgeries, hospitals, pharmacies and many other NHS environments will be asked to wear face coverings and observe the metre-plus rule.

Although Monday, 19 July has been designated so-called Freedom Day from covid regulations, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group says the measures will be an extra layer of protection against covid.

This, it insists, is especially important for patients who may have compromised immune systems, as well as helping to protect frontline staff.

Director of Nursing and Quality Gill May said: “Throughout the pandemic, health and social care services have done all they can to make their environments as safe as possible for all patients and staff, and this will continue from Monday, 19 July.

“From this date, our health and care settings will ask patients to continue to wear a face covering, practice social distancing and use hand sanitiser, while also advising that staff continue to wear PPE.

“These measures, that we have all become so used to over the last year, will help to not only protect those who are clinically vulnerable, but also provide reassurance to people who are currently feeling anxious about restrictions being lifted.

“Our public have been right behind the NHS throughout the duration of this awful pandemic, and we really hope that the people of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire will continue to show their support as we move forward.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced earlier this week that most coronavirus- related restrictions in England could be lifted from Monday 19 July, with people asked to remain cautious and take a pragmatic approach to mask wearing and social distancing.

The success of the covid-19 vaccination programme has been cited as one of the main reasons why the lifting of social distancing measures at this time has been possible.

Vaccines are now available to all people over the age of 18, and any person not yet vaccinated is encouraged to arrange an appointment using the National Booking Service, either online or by calling 119, or by visiting a walk-in vaccination clinic.

Dates and times of all walk-in vaccination sessions across the area can be found via www.bswccg.nhs.uk

Further information about the lifting of social distancing restrictions is available from www.gov.uk

 

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