The statement, posted on the trust’s Facebook page on Tuesday, external, said: “Due to the rise in respiratory illnesses we ask that all patients and visitors who attend our Emergency Department wear face masks.
“We also ask that the number of people accompanying patients to our Emergency Department is limited to one.”
There were no plans to bring back face masks for visitors to Rotherham General Hospital or Doncaster Royal Infirmary, according to the separate trusts which run them.
Latest NHS figures, external, for 31 December 2023, show Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust had 20 beds occupied by patients with Covid-19 and no beds occupied by patients with flu, norovirus or paediatric cases of RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus).
Figures for last week were due to be published on Thursday.
Some Facebook users commented on the Barnsley trust’s post claiming hospital staff were not wearing masks themselves.
While some were supportive of the request, others questioned the effectiveness of wearing face coverings.
Guidance from the UK Health Security Agency, external said wearing a face mask could “reduce the number of particles containing viruses that are released from the mouth and nose” of someone who had a respiratory infection.
It said face coverings could also protect the wearer “from becoming infected by some viruses”.
The trust was approached for comment.
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