Will you continue to wear a mask in public after Jan 27th?

[jameswills]

Correct. They can make up as many silly rules as they like, but they are not enforceable by law. The fact you have always been able to self exempt yourself in the UK from mask wearing means they were never ever enforceable by law. It’s just a continued power trip, that is all.

[Brave Fart]

jameswills said:

Correct. They can make up as many silly rules as they like, but they are not enforceable by law. The fact you have always been able to self exempt yourself in the UK from mask wearing means they were never ever enforceable by law. It’s just a continued power trip, that is all.

Exactly, and 'power trip' is a very apt phrase to use.

Another point: I've seen on hospital websites about people being exempt, even today. Well, technically there is no such thing as exempt any longer. Exemption was enshrined in the legislation, and since that legislation ended (in England) on 27th January 2022, the exemption ended with it.

That doesn't stop the NHS continually referring to it, though. Serving the public? Hmmm.

[jameswills]

Brave Fart said:

Exactly, and 'power trip' is a very apt phrase to use.

Another point: I've seen on hospital websites about people being exempt, even today. Well, technically there is no such thing as exempt any longer. Exemption was enshrined in the legislation, and since that legislation ended (in England) on 27th January 2022, the exemption ended with it.

That doesn't stop the NHS continually referring to it, though. Serving the public? Hmmm.

When you acknowledge the absurdity of it all you just give up caring. Wear one if you want to, but to continue to make people feel they have to is not on for me and will be in my opinion rightly ignored. Politely of course.

[hotchy]

I still see people with there mask exemption badge of safety.... I don't get it at all.

[Brave Fart]

jameswills said:

When you acknowledge the absurdity of it all you just give up caring. Wear one if you want to, but to continue to make people feel they have to is not on for me and will be in my opinion rightly ignored. Politely of course.

(This site could really benefit from a 'like' button!)

[anonymous-user]

Brave Fart said:

jameswills said:

When you acknowledge the absurdity of it all you just give up caring. Wear one if you want to, but to continue to make people feel they have to is not on for me and will be in my opinion rightly ignored. Politely of course.

(This site could really benefit from a 'like' button!)

Indeed. LIKE

[anonymous-user]

bad company said:

A quick Google came up with this which says masks are still mandatory in hospitals:-

https://www.qvh.nhs.uk/2022/04/coronavirus-informa...

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/health/rul...

Edited by bad company on Friday 6th May 10:38

Obfuscation at its best from the NHS.

[superlightr]

Brave Fart said:

bad company said:

A quick Google came up with this which says masks are still mandatory in hospitals:-

https://www.qvh.nhs.uk/2022/04/coronavirus-informa...

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/health/rul...

Edited by bad company on Friday 6th May 10:38

OK well it may come down to semantics. I note the use of the words 'mandatory' and 'rules', but also note the absence of the word 'legislation'.
So if a hospital states that masks are mandatory, and that's their rule, they can do so. But it is NOT the law, I promise you.

Like I said, it's a bluff; they cannot legally enforce what they think of as mandatory. It works, of course, with most people, which is why they do it, and I think it's wrong of them.

finally got a doc appointment (I dont go to docs hardly but when I do its something Im worried about/needs fixing) but on the telephone the receptionist was wittering on about non urgent something and was urgent appointments only and could it be by video ( knee joint problem and prostate examination and PSA ) - I repeated what the issue was and I wanted to see a doctor in person as otherwise the above would be difficult to do - not the same day as it used to be when I last went about 5 years ago but 2 weeks later - yep receptionist tells me to wear a mask - nope "exempt" was all i could be bothered with.

Wife also had an op 2 weeks ago and was staying in for 5 days but when visiting/taking/collecting etc neither of us were in masks nor were we asked to either which I was pleasantly surprised by.

Edited by superlightr on Friday 6th May 12:19

Edited by superlightr on Friday 6th May 12:20

[jameswills]

superlightr said:

finally got a doc appointment (I dont go to docs hardly but when I do its something Im worried about/needs fixing) but on the telephone the receptionist was wittering on about non urgent something and was urgent appointments only and could it be by video ( knee joint problem and prostate examination and PSA ) - I repeated what the issue was and I wanted to see a doctor in person as otherwise the above would be difficult to do - not the same day as it used to be when I last went about 5 years ago but 2 weeks later - yep receptionist tells me to wear a mask - nope "exempt" was all i could be bothered with.

Wife also had an op 2 weeks ago and was staying in for 5 days but when visiting/taking/collecting etc neither of us were in masks nor were we asked to either which I was pleasantly surprised by.

Edited by superlightr on Friday 6th May 12:19

Edited by superlightr on Friday 6th May 12:20

I think I expressed my experience in this thread, and had the same. Main general hospital with medical staff, mask use high but no one questioned non usage. GP surgery, receptionists forcefully telling, not asking, people to wear masks. I think proper NHS workers do not care, and just want to get on with their jobs. Middle management types, well they’ve probably invested many Custard Creme fuelled meetings about mask wearing so seem to be much more vociferous about them.

We can all agree, it’s been a weird period of our lives.

[bad company]

garyhun said:

Obfuscation

I had to look up that word. Agree with you though.

Mind you surely organisations can set their own rules on their premises?

[anonymous-user]

bad company said:

garyhun said:

Obfuscation

I had to look up that word. Agree with you though.

Mind you surely organisations can set their own rules on their premises?

Not by referencing non existent laws they can’t.

[superlightr]

bad company said:

garyhun said:

Obfuscation

I had to look up that word. Agree with you though.

Mind you surely organisations can set their own rules on their premises?

yes iin terms of a private business could ie - you have to wear a red jumper to come in, no jeans allowed etc (but not if the restriction/condition is related to a protected characteristic ie Gay/black/etc) but not a public sector organisation as by the nature of it its a public access/service unless its a legal requirement. They may have the right to refuse access for violence/other aspects but not for a non mask when its not a legal requirement any longer.

Edited by superlightr on Friday 6th May 13:10

Edited by superlightr on Friday 6th May 13:12

[bad company]

Looks like you guys are right. Here’s the guidance:-

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-n...

[anonymous-user]

bad company said:

Looks like you guys are right. Here’s the guidance:-

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-n...

O ye of little faith

[Timothy Bucktu]

How does the mask nonsense work with staff? My wife is fed up having to wear one every day, and would love to politely tell the powers that be at the hospice where she works to go forth on the mask mandate!

[dave_s13]

Timothy Bucktu said:

How does the mask nonsense work with staff? My wife is fed up having to wear one every day, and would love to politely tell the powers that be at the hospice where she works to go forth on the mask mandate!

No idea but I'm sure it wouldn't get much farther than a word from HR...it needs someone to challenge and start a revolution. Id I was still front line clinical I'd be doing what she's thinking.

[Cold]

I had my annual eye exam today. (Well, the last one was four years ago, but I digress...)

The lady with the OCT machine that actually studies your eyeball and looks for indicators of diabetes/glaucoma etc was fine with my apparel. The test was all done within a few minutes, no fuss.

The lady who did the vision exam insisted I wore one of their masks. First one I've worn for a long time. Masks aren't especially conducive with an eye exam because the lenses of the machine I was expected to peer through and report back on the clarity of the various dots/letters/lights, kept misting up from my breath being expelled upwards.

Better or worse? Better or worse?
Depends if I'm breathing in, breathing out, or holding my breath.

I may well now be registered blind as I couldn't really see much inside that machine and that had nothing to do with my eyes.

[Louis Balfour]

Cold said:

I had my annual eye exam today. (Well, the last one was four years ago, but I digress...)

The lady with the OCT machine that actually studies your eyeball and looks for indicators of diabetes/glaucoma etc was fine with my apparel. The test was all done within a few minutes, no fuss.

The lady who did the vision exam insisted I wore one of their masks. First one I've worn for a long time. Masks aren't especially conducive with an eye exam because the lenses of the machine I was expected to peer through and report back on the clarity of the various dots/letters/lights, kept misting up from my breath being expelled upwards.

Better or worse? Better or worse?
Depends if I'm breathing in, breathing out, or holding my breath.

I may well now be registered blind as I couldn't really see much inside that machine and that had nothing to do with my eyes.

Opticians were, and assume are, exempt from mask rules.

[Jamescrs]

Theres an opticians close to my office, I forget the name, it isn't one of the big ones but they are based in the middle of a shopping centre and they still insit of having the door locked at all times and not letting any customers in without a pre booked appointment because Covid-

Given theres a Specsavers and a Vision Express in the same centre welcoming in customers as normal I forsee the overcautous one not lasting too much longer

[anonymous-user]

Louis Balfour said:

Opticians were, and assume are, exempt from mask rules.

What do you mean by rules?