SCOTLAND’S Health Secretary has joined in the voices condemning Boris Johnson’s “irresponsibility” after he was photographed visiting a hospital without wearing a mask.
The Prime Minister was “running scared” from a Westminster debate on sleaze in his party when he went on a visit to Hexham General Hospital. It was there that he was seen without a face-covering.
Official guidance for the hospital states: “Anyone attending our hospitals and community settings must continue to wear a face-covering at all times to protect patients, visitors and staff.”
READ MORE: Keir Starmer urged to make complaint to Met over Boris Johnson and senior Tories
The Hexham hospitals website further states that visitors are expected to “wear a mask when you enter the hospital”.
However, the Northumbria NHS Trust, which is responsible for Hexham hospital, said Johnson had “followed strict measures, including wearing a mask, in each clinical area he visited”.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said they were “confident” that Johnson will have abided by the rules.
However, the comments have done little to quell the outrage, with Health Secretary Humza Yousaf condemning the Prime Minister’s “gobsmacking” behaviour.
Gobsmacked at that picture of PM strutting around a hospital without a mask. The level of irresponsibility is astounding. We know masks protect others, why would you deliberately choose not to wear one when meeting health care workers? Just a complete & utter lack of leadership.
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) November 9, 2021
Writing on Twitter, Yousaf said: “Gobsmacked at that picture of PM strutting around a hospital without a mask. The level of irresponsibility is astounding.
“We know masks protect others, why would you deliberately choose not to wear one when meeting health care workers? Just a complete and utter lack of leadership.”
Other voices attacking the Prime Minister include Rachel Clarke, a palliative care doctor who was at the centre of a public row around mask wearing on public transport.
Clarke wrote: “There are so many people dying of Covid in my trust right now. It makes the sight of @BorisJohnson - casually strolling without a mask through Hexham General Hospital today - absolutely sickening.”
There are so many people dying of Covid in my trust right now. It makes the sight of @BorisJohnson - casually strolling without a mask through Hexham General Hospital today - absolutely sickening. pic.twitter.com/SZmLLyKfm3
— Rachel Clarke (@doctor_oxford) November 8, 2021
Former Tory MP Anna Soubry commented: “Everyone has to wear a mask in a hospital. Everyone. Except Boris Johnson. But he’s above the rules - he’s arrogant and ignorant and doesn’t give a stuff about our NHS workers, which is why he couldn’t even be bothered to brush his hair. Worst PM ever.”
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