Posted 24 February 2023 - 04:59
Posted 24 February 2023 - 04:59
News
Nurses’ uniforms: standardised NHS ‘smart scrubs’ are on the way
National uniform for nursing staff in England’s NHS will be on order soon, but first, wearer trials to iron out design glitches, and colours for the universal workwear must be chosen
National uniform for nursing staff in England’s NHS will be on order soon, but first, wearer trials to iron out design glitches, and colours for the universal workwear must be chosen
A national uniform for nurses in England’s NHS is one step closer after a contract was awarded to make the new garments.
There have long been calls for standardised workwear in England to make it easier to distinguish between members of different healthcare teams in the NHS, with patient safety a consideration.
Nurses in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been wearing standardised uniforms for several years. But in England, individual employers have retained local discretion, resulting in diverse colour coding, styles, textiles and branding.
Wide range of nurses’ uniforms confuses patients, the public, and even other staff
The issue has been a source of debate, with one community nurse telling Nursing Standard they were often mistaken for a Tesco worker.
More than a quarter (28%) of nurses in a 2019 Nursing Standard survey said they did not believe their uniform made it clear they were a nurse, with many saying the different uniforms caused confusion for patients, visitors and colleagues.
To address confusion, NHS Supply Chain, the procurement arm of the health service, set about introducing a national uniform in England following a workforce consultation in 2021.
Most (88%) of the more than 28,000 nursing respondents favoured a national uniform, in particular a ‘smart scrub’ two-piece uniform. The tunic is more fitted than the standard scrub top, and has added pockets.
NHS Supply Chain has now selected a workwear company to supply the uniforms in what is thought to be an eight-figure contract, This will replace the existing arrangement, which expires in April.
The final designs of the uniforms are being tested to check they meet the functional needs of the workforce. Decisions on colours are yet to be made.
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