FOI – 2024-000004 Universal Masking in Healthcare (HTML)

Date received – 04 January 2024 | Date responded – 01 February 2024

Request

I'd like an electronic copy of all NSS written correspondence of any type discussing, mentioning, or considering the World Health Organisation, Royal College of Nursing and British Medical Association's recommendation for universal masking in healthcare as of the 1st of September 2023 to the 4th of January 2024.

Response

I refer to your freedom of information request that we received on 04 January 2024 requesting the following information:

I'd like an electronic copy of all NSS written correspondence of any type discussing, mentioning, or considering the World Health Organisation, Royal College of Nursing and British Medical Association's recommendation for universal masking in healthcare as of the 1st of September 2023 to the 4th of January 2024.

I can advise you that we have now completed the search of our records and can provide you with the following information:

Please find attached Appendices regarding all NSS correspondence mentioning, or considering the World Health Organisation, Royal College of Nursing and British Medical Association's recommendation for universal masking in healthcare as of the 1st of September 2023 to the 4th of January 2024. Appendices are as follows:

• A1 - FW Evaluation of WHO IPC Covid-19 guidance - 21 December 2023_Redacted
• A2 - FW Ventilation wording in NIPCM_Redacted
• A2.1 - FW Ventilation wording in NIPCM_Attachment1_Redacted
• A2.2 - FW Ventilation wording in NIPCM_Attachment2
• A3 - FW WHO COVID guidance; RCN Letter to CNO_Redacted
• A4 - RE Daily on Call Fri 22nd Request_Redacted
• A5 - RE JN.01 query_Redacted
• A6 - Re RCN Scotland letter - JN.1 COVID WHO advice_Redacted
• A7 - Re SG meeting re rcn letter_Redacted
• A8 - RE URGENT WHO covid variant announcement_Redacted
• A9 - RE WHO SR updates_Redacted
• A10 - WHO COVID guidance; RCN Letter to CNO_Redacted
• A10.1 - WHO COVID guidance; RCN Letter to CNO_Attachment1_Redacted
• A10.2 - WHO COVID guidance; RCN Letter to CNO_Attachment2

Some of the documentation being released includes personal data of third parties, specifically, names of individuals which have not been released into the public domain on any previous FOIs or literature regarding this topic. Where this is the case, these names and contact details have been redacted in line with exception Section 38 ((1)(b)) of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act – Personal information.

I trust you will find the information of assistance and if you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are unhappy with any aspect of how we have dealt with your request, you can make representations to us asking us to review the handling of your request.

If you require any further information, please contact Head of Information and Cyber Security, Digital and Security within 40 working days of the date of this correspondence.

Contact

Address

If after a review you are still unhappy, you also have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner, who can be contacted at Kinburn Castle, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, or via their application form.

National Services Scotland (NSS) is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. You can view all FOI responses within our FOI Publications repository.