Sessional use of personal protective equipment is the use of equipment between patients, and the general principles of sessional use of PPE in a hospital ward is that equipment that you are wearing above your neck can stay on between patients, and equipment below your neck should be changed between patients.

Your face mask and visor can stay on between patients and healthcare settings, provided you are not touching this equipment. Your gloves and apron should be changed between patients because that equipment has been contaminated by providing close personal care to an individual.

Every time you change personal protective equipment, you also need to pay stringent attention to hand hygiene.

PPE in the hospital should be worn in a ward setting only, and if you are leaving a ward environment, all your PPE should be removed and none of the equipment can be replaced once it’s been removed. Outside of the ward, social distancing and good hand hygiene is all that is required to protect you and those around you.