GPs surgeries are asking patients AGAIN to wear face masks to appointments amid a nationwide outbreak of whooping cough

GPs surgeries are once again asking patients to wear face masks to appointments amid the nationwide outbreak of whooping cough.

At least five babies have died this year in England and Wales from the infection, which is also known as pertussis or the '100-day cough'.

There have been almost 3,000 confirmed cases so far and concerned officials are urging eligible patients, such as pregnant women, to get the vaccine.

Some practices are asking patients to wear a face covering during appointments or while traveling to the surgery. At least one is advising patients wait outside on arrival.

Parkside Family Practice in Reading, Berkshire, has told all patients they must wear a mask again.

A statement on its website says: 'For infection control purposes, please do wear a face mask when coming to our surgery.'

The Parkview Surgery in Uxbridge, Middlesex, told patients: 'If you have a face to face appointment, the doctors ask that you wear a face mask to your appointment.'

And West Hampstead Medical Centre in north west London has emailed all its patients warning of 'a local upsurge in measles and whooping cough'.

'If you have a cough, please wear a mask in the practice,' it warned, adding that anyone with symptoms should book a telephone call but be 'available to attend in person within 30 minutes'.

It added that parents should then 'notify the reception you have arrived but wait outside to be called in when your appointment starts', the Telegraph reported.

The Weardale Practice in Stanhope, Bishop Auckland, is also asking all patients who have symptoms of a respiratory infection to wear a mask when attending the practice in updated guidance.

The moves follow updated NHS England infection control guidance, issued earlier this year in the wake of a measles outbreak and increasing whooping cough cases.

It advised reinstating mask-wearing measures where appropriate.

The guidance says 'if possible or tolerated the patient should wear a surgical face mask in communal areas' to avoid spreading the highly contagious diseases to others.

However, the decision on mask-wearing is made by local healthcare providers depending on infection rates in their area.

Whooping cough is as contagious as measles and more so than Covid-19, with young children who are not protected at the greatest risk from serious complications.

The NHS recommends all pregnant women are vaccinated against whooping cough between 16 and 32 weeks to protect their baby in the first weeks of its life before it can get its own jabs.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that five babies - all under three months of age - died after contracting the infection in the first three months of the year.

It is the highest number of deaths caused by whooping cough in a decade and experts fear more will follow as case numbers could hit 40-year highs.

Experts say the surge in cases may be due to decreasing uptake of the vaccine and circulation of the disease being suppressed during Covid lockdowns.