Dress Guidance

NHS GRAMPIAN

DRESS GUIDANCE

The following guidance on standards of dress has been issued to assist managers and staff. In addition areas may have detailed standards which they have developed to meet the requirements for that particular area to complement this guidance.

Staff in the health service are always in the public eye. Relatives and carers of our patients, by and large, perceive how we are dressed as an indication of the standard of care we deliver. It is therefore important that the public face of the service we provide is professional and appropriate

All staff should be aware of, and follow the general standards set out below:-

·  Identity badges must be worn in a prominent position at all times.

·  Clothing, whether uniform or mufti must be neat, clean, and appropriate to the area in which the staff member is working. Under garments must be inconspicuous and of appropriate colours.

·  Footwear must be clean and in good repair and of a style that is not hazardous to either patient or staff member.

·  No jewellery other than stud ear-rings, one in each ear, wedding bands and wrist/fob watches may be worn in clinical areas. Wrist watches should be removed for hand decontamination and before undertaking clinical care.

·  Hair must be clean and neat, in a style appropriate to the staff member’s duties.

·  Only a minimal application of cosmetics is acceptable.

Staff from both hospital and community settings may of necessity have to wear their uniforms en route to and from their place of work. Members of the public take note of both the standard of dress and the appropriateness of where it is being worn. Members of the public regularly contact NHS Grampian to voice their concerns regarding the possible spread of infection from contaminated uniforms. All staff are respectfully reminded that they are ambassadors for the health service in Grampian and should therefore regularly review the appropriateness of where and when they wear their uniforms e.g. not wearing theatre greens in canteens or in smoking shelters

Staff who choose to launder their own uniforms should follow the guidance attached.

NHS GRAMPIAN Uniform Committee

September 19 2006