Ambulance chiefs in the UK consider facial hair ban

NHS officials have considered telling paramedics they must be clean shaven to protect themselves from coronavirus.

London Ambulance Service said in a draft memo – seen by the BBC – that its ability to handle potential Covid-19 cases was “adversely affected” by crews unable to wear respirators properly.

The service said staff had been asked to consider shaving but it had decided against mandating they do so for now.

The Department of Health said there was no national policy on the issue.

The London Ambulance Service NHS Trust – which employs first responders across the capital – wrote in the unsent internal bulletin that “all staff in patient-facing roles must be clean shaven when on-duty”.

The trust’s current policy asks staff to consider shaving to ensure respirator masks fit tightly against the face.

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