Hospital staff in Airdrie and Coatbridge have a new look after switching to the NHS Scotland national uniform.
The new uniform has been introduced at Monklands Hospital, Coathill Hospital and Wester Moffat Hospital.
It is being worn by nurses, allied health professionals, as well as by NHS employed catering, domestic, facilities and estates staff– with colours of tunics varying for different fields of work. Portering staff will switch to the new uniform in September.
The change in uniform will make different staff groups more easily identifiable to patients, relatives and other staff within the wards.
Clinical staff, such as nurses and allied health professionals, will wear tunics in shades of blue. Facilities staff, including porters catering and domestic staff, will wear shades of green. All groups of staff will wear navy trousers. The uniforms are bespoke to NHS Scotland and will carry the NHS Scotland logo.
The uniforms are gradually being phased in across Scotland, with Monklands Hospital being one of the earliest to make the change. Wishaw General became the first hospital in Scotland to make a complete changeover to the new uniform in March this year.
By the end of December 2012, staff in all NHSScotland sites will be required to wear the new uniform.
Currently, NHSScotland staff wear more than 250 different styles of tunic in more than 100 different colours. It was found that this brought confusion to patients, the public and staff.
The new uniform will assist staff compliance with NHS Lanarkshire’s hygiene policies to help tackle healthcare associated infections.
Annie-Marie Carr, Associate Director Bankaide and national uniform implementation lead for NHS Lanarkshire, said: “We hope the new uniform will make it much easier for patients, relatives and colleagues to identify staff and their role more easily. The national uniform was designed in consultation with staff who said they were looking for comfort, simplicity and consistency.
“It is also more cost effective while providing better quality garments, which are more appropriate to staff’s needs and can stand up to the rigours of the job.”
The uniform will be introduced at Hairmyres Hospital in the coming weeks.
For more information regarding changes to uniform please visit www.scotland.gov.uk/nhsuniform