Hospital trust uses 57,500 face masks every week

A Freedom of Information request sent to Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust (HHFT) revealed its current use of face masks represents almost three million every year across its three hospitals – Basingstoke, Andover, and Winchester.

The trust introduced a new policy in January which bans reusable face coverings, instead asking patients, visitors, and staff to use a surgical mask provided at the entrance to the hospitals, which it said offer better protection.

The Gazette previously asked the trust about concerns regarding the environmental impact of using disposable masks, but it declined to comment.

Conservationists warned last year that the Covid-19 pandemic could spark a surge in ocean pollution following an increase of discarded single-use masks and gloves ending up washed up on shorelines or on the seabed.

Single-use face masks can be bad for the environment if they are not disposed of correctly because they are unable to be recycled.

Paula Chinn, materials specialist at WWF-UK told the BBC: “If only one per cent of masks were disposed of incorrectly, we would see 10 million single-use masks each month spilling into the environment.”

She said this contributes to the plastic pollution problem which is harming wildlife and their habitats, such as ending up in seabirds’ stomachs or tangled around species.

A government spokesperson said it was looking at a long-term PPE use strategy that will consider environmental concerns.

HHFT was asked how it disposes of face masks, and it responded to say those from Covid wards are sent to the ‘infectious waste stream’ and those from non-Covid wards are sent to the ‘non-infectious waste stream’.

It added: “In non-clinical areas such as offices, the masks are disposed of into the general waste stream as per national guidance. The waste is collected by our clinical waste contractor and either sent for alternative treatment or incineration with energy recovery.”

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

"The 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 then, and now, ensures we are taking every step we can to care for every person within our hospitals.

“We are aware this increases the volume of single-use face masks being disposed of within our hospitals and as a trust, we ensure our masks are sent for incineration at an energy recovery facility when they have been used.

"We are always looking for ways to improve our green credentials and Covid-19 has created challenges but we are proud our masks are disposed of in an efficient way.”