Havant butcher reported to council for not wearing a mask - despite being exempt because of asthma and cancer surgery

Nancy Hitching of AJ Meats in West Street received a call from Havant Borough Council’s Environmental Health Team on Saturday – as she was recovering from minor surgery to treat breast cancer the day before.

The 56-year-old said: ‘I have very bad asthma and I’m recovering from stage three breast cancer.

‘A lot of people have not been very understanding.

‘I didn’t have a name badge for a while and someone phoned up the council and reported us.

‘I couldn’t believe it – I feel I don’t have to explain myself to everyone.

‘The environmental health officer said it had been reported to them but it wasn’t really their remit, and it was more a police matter.

‘We don’t know if it was passed on to the police.’

In England you must wear a face covering in most public buildings, including shops and shopping centres, with police enforcing the policy.

But people with legitimate health concerns are exempt, and Nancy’s says her asthma becomes ‘much worse’ when she wears a mask for a prolonged period of time.

She said: ‘It makes me hyperventilate and I have to use my inhaler.

‘I’m in a situation where I have to work. Me and Chris run our own business – it’s how we earn a living. It’s not tenable for me to take time off work.’

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Now Nancy has taken to wearing a badge she bought online, but believes there should be a more ‘legitimate’ distribution through the NHS.

She said: ‘It’s quite difficult to find out where you can get one.

‘There should be a situation where you can phone your GP to get one.’

The government has provided an exemption card template online, but it claims it is unable to provide physical badges or signs.

Having undergone radiotherapy and continuing to take drugs for her cancer, Nancy is reliant on others to wear a mask and minimise the risk of compounding her cancer battle with a Covid-19 infection.

She said: ‘I hope I’m out of the worst of it now.

‘I’m feeling very positive.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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