Waikato DHB scraps facemasks for staff without flu jab

Waikato District Health Board is set to reverse its controversial policy requiring staff without flu immunisations to wear face masks while treating patients. The policy was brought in three years ago by the former DHB chief executive Nigel Murray, who resigned in October amid a furore over his spending in the role. The DHB's interim CEO, Derek Wright, launched a review into the policy in February and told our reporter Nita Blake-Persen it found the masks were not effective in keeping patients safe from the spread of germs. Derek Wright says the Waikato DHB will sign off on reversing in the policy in the next few weeks.