LAST week the Gazette reported that Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT), which runs Basingstoke, Andover, and Winchester hospitals, has banned face coverings, instead asking the public to swap for a surgical mask on arrival.

The news raised various questions asked by our readers, some of which we have put to the trust.

Surgical face masks provided at Basingstoke hospital are available at the entrance, in an uncovered box, sparking fears that they could become contaminated by people touching them, sneezing, or coughing over them.

Last year it was reported that HHFT had the highest acquired infection rate of Covid-19 in England, with nearly 40 per cent of its Covid patients catching the virus while being treated for other illnesses.

We asked the trust: How are you ensuring the masks are clean and hygienic, and not contaminated?

It declined to answer the question, however Julie Dawes, chief nurse at HHFT, said there is hand gel available to use before taking one, adding: “Even when wearing a surgical mask, it remains essential to socially distance at all times and regularly disinfect / wash your hands.”

We looked at information from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which states that “appropriate use, storage and cleaning or disposal of masks are essential to make them as effective as possible”.

It recommends washing hands before touching a face mask.

The WHO also states a potential harm or risk of using masks in a health facility setting includes “contamination of the mask due to its manipulation by contaminated hands”.

We have heard from readers that at some other hospitals, face masks are given out using tweezers to avoid contamination from touching.

You told us that there appears to be no information at Basingstoke hospital site to let visitors know that face coverings are now banned.

We asked the trust: How are you communicating to patients entering the hospital that they are no longer allowed to wear a face covering and should instead use one of the surgical face masks provided?

It declined to answer.

We also asked: Is this something being adopted across all hospitals in England? Are you following advice from NHS England?

Again, it declined to answer.

We questioned the trust about the difference in safety of using a surgical face mask as opposed to a face covering, asking: How much safer are surgical face masks?

Julie Dawes, chief nurse at HHFT, said: “To help keep our patients and staff safe, all visitors and outpatients are asked to wear a surgical face mask when inside our hospitals unless medically exempt.

“Surgical face masks offer a greater level of protection as unlike face coverings, they are manufactured to a recognised standard and provide ‘outgoing protection’. The increased protection ensures we are taking every step we can to care for every person within our hospitals.”

Information from the WHO states that surgical masks have been tested according to a set of standardised test methods, with the aim of “balancing high filtration, adequate breathability and optionally, fluid penetration resistance”.

We asked the trust: What is the estimated cost of providing face masks for everyone entering the hospital?

It declined to answer.

We asked the trust: Has any consideration been given to the environmental impact of using disposable face masks?

It declined to answer.