Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSRoll out begins for national NHS uniform in Scotland
The first deliveries of the new NHS Scotland national staff uniform arrived at hospitals today.
Until now over 250 different styles of tunic in 100 different colours have been being worn in hospitals in Scotland. The new uniform, first announced this time last year, comprises a single tunic style in five shades of blue – for clinical staff – and two shades of green – for non-clinical staff.
To mark the occasion Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon visited staff wearing the uniform at Glasgow’s New Stobhill Hospital.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Staff themselves have been involved from the outset and consulted on both the design and testing of the new outfits.
“Not only will the new NHS staff uniform help to convey the professionalism of healthcare workers, it will also make it easier for patients to identify staff,” she said.
“The uniform will also help to minimise the risk of infection and cross-contamination, further contributing to our ongoing drive to tackle healthcare associated infection and boost public confidence.”
In October, nurses in Wales began to receive similar colour-coded uniforms to help patients identify their role and who is in charge of wards.
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Readers' comments (2)
Anonymous | 11-Dec-2009 9:01 am
I'm fully supportive of this - I not long ago left a Trust where they were introducing a new uniform for CNSs. This was not a popular choice with the nurses as it was discovered that this colour tunic was the same as the HCAs at another hospital and very similar to the cleaners uniform at the same hospital.
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Anna Bermingham | 14-Nov-2010 12:33 pm
I have been asked to wear a tabard as a way of identifying my role. To date I have been mistaken for a tea lady, a cleaner and an WRVS worker. When a patient enquired as to the reason for the "uniform", I told him it was for indentification. His reply was " As What"?
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