News last month that Welsh nursing staff will soon be wearing identical uniforms caught our eye.
Welsh Health Minister Edwina Hart is reported as saying,
"A new nationally-recognised uniform will be symbolic of the individual and the organisation. It will not only convey identity, but also a reassurance to patients and relatives and a sense of solidarity and pride among staff themselves.
The new uniform will also be designed to reduce the risk of hospital infections spreading helping to meet our One Wales commitment to improve hospital cleanliness."
A working group set up by Ms Hart and comprising nursing staff and health representative bodies including the Royal College of Nursing, UNISON and the Royal College of Midwives recommended that the uniform would have the following elements:
- short-sleeved to maximise forearm washing culture
- side-button or zip opening to avoid pulling stained, contaminated or soiled uniforms over the head and face when changing
- able to withstand industrial, high temperature washing techniques
- impractical to wear outside the workplace
- available to all on a daily change basis with access to extra changes if required and
- separate colour distinctions for key staff grades
Generally speaking, this strikes us as all very sensible - but what on earth will a design which is "impractical to wear outside the workplace" look like?
The mind boggles... :)
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