People in Somerset are being advised to wear face masks when accessing healthcare services and to take a cautious approach to the relaxing of social distancing guidelines.

The advice comes from the NHS in Somerset and the county council’s Public Health team as positive cases of Covid-19 continue to rise. Healthcare services across the county have seen a large increase in demand over the last few weeks .

Public Health England’s infection prevention and control guidelines and hospital visiting guidance will remain in place for all patients and visitors. This means that anyone attending an appointment at their GP practice, optometrist, dentist, pharmacy or hospital must wear a face mask or face covering.

Patients and visitors will be expected to follow all social distancing rules in healthcare settings, as before, to help protect the most vulnerable people and support health and care teams.

Health and care settings will continue to operate strict infection, prevention and control measures that include additional cleaning, the wearing of masks and other personal protection equipment and maintaining additional space within waiting rooms.

Clinical Director at NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, Dr Alex Murray said: “We’re seeing a high demand on all healthcare services currently and it is really important that we continue to help protect the most vulnerable people and our health and care teams by continuing to socially distance, wearing a face mask and having your vaccine when offered to help restrict the spread of coronavirus.”

“The NHS in Somerset is working hard to ensure access to all that need us, but we need support to help us do this.”

The advice includes:

* Follow good hygiene and social distancing guidelines;

* Get both doses of the vaccine;

*  Self-isolate when required to do so;

* Use rapid tests twice a week.

Anyone who needs medical advice or treatment and is not sure where to go should call NHS 111 first, or go to www.111.nhs.uk for immediate advice, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.