Using masks
Healthcare workers should wear masks to protect against respiratory infection.
Wearing a mask helps to reduce the risk of droplet transmission from you to others, and from others to you.
Wearing a mask is not a replacement for other measures to prevent spreading infection, for example, hand hygiene and maintaining distance.
You must put on your mask correctly. It should cover your nose and mouth and not be moved up and down.
Masks should be worn in all healthcare settings.
This includes:
- primary care
- secondary care
- tertiary care
- National Ambulance Service
- vaccination centres
Mask use in different settings
Public health guidance on mask use applies in HSE buildings that are not within or adjacent to where clinical care is delivered.
Masks should be given to staff who wish to wear one in any workplace setting.
Surgical masks
Healthcare workers should wear surgical masks when:
- delivering care to patients who are not suspected or confirmed of having COVID-19.
- interacting with other healthcare workers in a clinical setting.
Healthcare workers should wear respirator masks (FFP2) when delivering care to patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
Surgical masks should be offered to patients and service users using healthcare services. Access to care must not be denied, if a person is not able to wear a mask.
Surgical masks should be given to those accompanying a patient, and they should be asked to wear them.
Hospital patients and residents in residential settings for older people should be encouraged to wear masks when outside their room or bed space. Surgical masks should be given to those who wish to wear them in their room or bed space.
This applies to all healthcare settings including:
- primary care
- secondary care
- tertiary care
- National Ambulance Service
- vaccination centres
Respirator masks
Healthcare workers should wear respirator masks (FFP2) in settings where they are delivering clinical care to patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 or as directed by local Infection Prevention Control (IPC) teams.
Respirator masks will be given to patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in multi-bed or open areas, who wish to wear them in preference to surgical masks.
This applies to all healthcare settings including:
- primary care
- secondary care
- tertiary care
- National Ambulance Service
- vaccination centres
Guidance on using PPE
Personal protective equipment is valuable as an additional protection for patients and staff. It should only be used where it is likely to be beneficial, as outlined in the HSE Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidance.