Response sent by email 13 February 2017 St Helier Hospital Wrythe Lane Carshalton Surrey SM5 1AA Tel: 020 8296 2000 Direct dial tel: 020 8296 4992 Re: Freedom of Information request - Ref: FOI 3813 Thank you for your recent request for information under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. Set out below is your original request followed by the Trust's response. Request I would like to request a copy of your dress code and/or uniform policy for nurses. I have looked on your web site but have been unable to locate it. Response Please see attached a copy of our Dress Code and Uniform Policy as requested. If you have any queries about this letter, please contact the Freedom of Information office. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications. If you are unhappy with the way in which your Freedom of Information request has been handled and wish to raise any concerns, please contact Meg Stevens, Head of Governance, at the address above or by email (meg.stevens@esth.nhs.uk). Should you still be dissatisfied with the outcome, you are entitled to contact the Information Commissioner at: Information Commissioner s Office (ICO), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF. Yours sincerely Teresa O Brien Freedom of Information Manager Corporate Affairs Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust T: 020 8296 4992 E: teresa.obrien@esth.nhs.uk W: www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/ Great care to every patient, every day Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) 020 8296 2508 Main Switchboard 020 8296 2000 Chairman Laurence Newman Chief Executive Daniel Elkeles
DRESS CODE AND UNIFORM POLICY FOR TRUST STAFF APPROVAL/ADOPTION DATE FOR REVIEW September 2018 DISTRIBUTION RELATED POLICIES AUTHOR/FURTHER INFORMATION THIS DOCUMENT REPLACES Nursing and Midwifery Committee Executive Committee. Clinical and Non Clinical Staff Local Guidelines such as Theatre Dress Code. Jackie O Neill Head of Education Clinical Education & Learning Department Trust Uniform Guidelines/Policy. INTRODUCTION 1. This policy outlines the standard of professional appearance that is required by all healthcare staff working within Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. This will also contribute to minimising the risk of cross infection and encourage public trust and confidence. 2. The Trust has adopted the bare below the elbows dress code policy for all staff involved in clinical contact with the patient and when washing hands. Therefore staff must have sleeves above the elbow and remove all watches, bracelets and rings with stones. This is to ensure hand hygiene is not compromised. It is also a visual sign to the patients of the Trust s commitment to taking infection control precautions. KEY AUDIENCE 3. All healthcare staff within the Trust must read and act on this policy including qualified, unqualified, permanent, bank and locum staff. This policy also applies to staff that do not wear a uniform. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 4. The Chief Nurse, Medical Director and HR Director have the overall responsibility for ensuring that this policy is implemented within the trust, and that adequate arrangements are made to monitor and audit compliance.
5. It is the direct responsibility of every member of staff to be aware and compliant with the dress code and uniform policy. 6. It is the responsibility of all line managers/senior managers to challenge staff that are not compliant with the dress code/uniform policy and ensure it is enforced in their department s offices and clinical settings in the Trust premises. POLICY 7. All employees should make sure they present themselves in a way that projects a professional image that encourages public trust and confidence, whether wearing uniform or their own clothing. 8. Therefore, all employees must ensure that their overall appearance is appropriate for their role. Appearance and clothing should be smart, clean and not cause embarrassment or offence to patients, visitors, colleagues or other staff. 9. Any changes to, alterations or design of a new uniform must be approved internally by the Chief Nurse at the Nursing & Midwifery Trust committee (NMC) or the Operational Management Group (OMG) prior to implementing. 10. Failure to comply with the policy may result in disciplinary action. General dress code principles and requirements for clinical staff wearing a uniform Bare Below Elbows 11. The bare below elbow dress code policy is for all staff involved in clinical contact and when washing hands, therefore remove all watches, bracelets and rings with stones, A plain wedding ring is the only exception; this is to ensure hand hygiene is not compromised. It is also a visual sign to the patient of the Trust s commitment to taking infection control precautions. 12..A clean and decontaminated uniform must be worn at the start of each shift. Uniform allows for mobility and comfort for moving and handling purposes, as well as contributing to identification for security purposes (for example a security coded name badge).all uniforms must be of appropriate size and fit. 13. Medical staff must wear clothes that reflect the professional nature of their role, that are smart, clean and appropriate and that inspire confidence in the public. Overly tight, short or revealing clothes will not be tolerated and medical staff will be required to change before attending clinical areas. 14..Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) must wear uniform when engaging with patients in the clinical areas/ wards. 15. Staff attending study days internally or externally should dress in smart casual clothing. Jeans, hooded tops or flip flops are not to be worn on Trust study days.
16. Hair will be neat, clean and of a discrete or natural colour. Long hair/pony tails/plaits must not hang over the shoulder and needs to be pulled back from the face using discrete fastenings. Headscarves if worn must be laundered regularly, at a temperature suitable for decontamination. Men will be either clean-shaven, or beards and moustaches must be kept neatly trimmed. 17. Fingernails must be short, unvarnished and clean. False nails and rings must not be worn. 18. It is considered good practice when wearing a neck-tie to either remove it or tuck it into the shirt when providing direct patient care. 19. Jewellery must be kept to a minimum: a. Long/dangling necklaces must not be worn with uniform or when providing direct patient care b. Wrist watches and bracelets will be removed c. Earrings should be plain studs, if worn to a maximum of 4. 20. Religious requirements regarding dress will be treated sensitively and will be agreed on an individual basis but must conform to health and safety regulations, particularly in relation to infection control and patient handling guidelines Cardigans, Fleeces or Sweatshirts 21. Cardigans, fleeces or sweatshirts must be removed when entering a clinical area including when giving direct patient care. Exceptions to this rule would be indicated by the relevant departmental manager e.g. exceptionally cold weather. The colour should be appropriate for the colour of uniform e.g. green for occupational therapy staff, navy blue or black for nursing, midwifery and physiotherapy staff. These items must be laundered regularly and at a temperature suitable for decontamination (60 degrees Celsius). Fingernails 22. Fingernails should be clean, short, and without nail varnish. Nails should also be neatly manicured to prevent patients / clients and staff being scratched when involved in direct handling procedures. Artificial nails must not be worn. Personal Hygiene 23. Employees should be clean, perfume and aftershave should be discrete and not overpowering. Patients/clients can find smells nauseating. 24. A moderate and discreet amount of make up may be worn but exaggerated forms of make-up including false eye lashes are not acceptable. Jewellery / Badges / Body Art 25. Rings must not be worn whilst on duty. A plain wedding band without inset stones is the only exception.
26. Wrist watches must be removed when undertaking direct patient care or in any other circumstance where there is a risk of cross infection as they impede adequate hand washing. 27. Bracelets (including charity bracelets) and other wrist jewellery must not be worn. If required for reasons of personal/religious circumstances this must be discussed with departmental manager (e.g. medic alerts bracelet). 28. A double pair of stud earrings may be worn. No other visible form of body piercing is acceptable when wearing uniform, which includes nose, wrist and eyebrow studs. 29. Professional badges and identification/security badge only should be worn 30. In the interests of safety, all pens, scissors, badges must be stored in the waist pocket of the uniform to prevent harm to patients when caring for certain patients e.g. children, confused patients, it is recommended that staff remove all pens, badges, scissors and jewellery. 31. Tattoos will need to be covered, at the discretion of the relevant departmental manager, if they are deemed to be of an inappropriate nature. Footwear 32. Plain black, clean low-heeled shoes with noiseless soles and in a good state of repair are to be worn in all clinical areas. In some wards and departments other forms of footwear might be required e.g. theatres or physiotherapy where footwear may be provided by the Trust. (Please refer to local uniform policies). 33. Shoes that are difficult to clean (e.g. suede) may be a source of infection and must not be worn in clinical areas. Suitably supportive shoes must be worn when moving or handling patients. 34. Open toed shoes/sandals/flip-flops (including Crocs) is not permitted in clinical areas. During hot weather white clean low-heeled shoes may be worn without tights. Other 35. i) Staff of all grades must wear plain black stockings or tights with dresses. ii) Staff of all grades wearing trousers must wear plain dark socks. The only exception is in children s areas where staff are permitted to wear socks decorated appropriately for working with children. iii) Tabards with appropriate design may be worn by all grades of staff working with children. General dress code principles and requirements for non-clinical staff 36. For staff not wearing uniform clean & smart clothing should be worn at all times and staff must not wear jeans, hooded sweat shirts, low, tight or revealing tops or shorts must not be worn. Footwear needs to be appropriate, smart sandals may be worn in the summer but flip flops or crocs are not appropriate.
37. Staff entering clinical areas need to be prepared to adopt bare below the elbows and be able to gel/wash their hands unimpeded so wrist watches, rings and jewellery should be removed as with clinical staff. 38. A security coded name badge must be clearly visible at all times Wearing of Uniform when off duty 39. There is no evidence of an infection risk from travelling in uniform, but patient confidence in NHS may be undermined (Department of Health 2007). It is therefore advisable not to wear uniform outside of the Hospital. (Staff required to work in the community must follow local guidelines). 40. For staff that are required to travel across sites within the Trust, uniforms must be fully covered at all times. In the absence of access to changing rooms, staff wearing a uniform outside the workplace must ensure their uniform is fully covered. 41. Theatre staff, or other staff who wear blues or scrubs must change or cover their uniform with a white coat or other item of clothing as appropriate outside the theatre department. Theatre staff including medical staff must remove their hat and mask when out of the department and will not be served in any of the restaurants unless theatre scrubs are covered. 42. It is not permissible for any staff in uniform/blues or scrubs to smoke in public, staff are reminded that Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust is a nonsmoking organisation. Smoking whilst in uniform will be subject to formal action. 43. It is not acceptable for staff in uniform to eat or drink outside designated areas, such as corridors or clinical areas. Identification of Grades 44. The colours and designs used for identification of staff will be reviewed periodically. The current uniforms are outlined in appendices 1 and 2. Laundering of Uniforms 45. Staff must ensure that a clean uniform is worn each shift dresses and tunics must be freshly laundered for each span of duty. 46. Nurses uniforms partly function as protective clothing and to reduce the risk of crossinfection. Laundering must provide adequate microbiological decontamination. This will be achieved by using detergent and a washing cycle that reaches 60 centigrade. Tumble-drying or ironing will further reduce the small number of microbes likely to be present. Uniforms should be washed and ironed inside out with zips closed Nurses and other clinicians may be eligible to claim tax relief on parts of their uniform and for laundering uniforms at home, please contact your local union representative or tax office for more details.
Issue of Uniforms 47. A request for uniforms form (available in Trust Forms on the Intranet) should be completed and signed by the ward departmental manager along with the signature of the Operational Nurse Manager responsible for that area. 48. All new nursing employees need to arrange a fitting with the sewing room before commencement. Any existing nursing staff requiring replacement uniforms needs to follow the same procedure. It should then be sent to the sewing room. 49. The sewing room will raise a non-stock requisition and send it to the budget holder for a code and signature. The sewing room will inform the nurse when their uniform is ready for collection. 50. All staff required to wear a uniform will be provided with a supply of uniforms to allow enough time for laundering and to ensure that sufficient numbers to allow a clean one each day. 51. The allocation of uniforms is calculated on the number of days worked: For example a nurse working full-time will be issued with the following: 3 dresses or 3 tunics and 3 trousers or a combination to equal 3 uniforms. Part time staff will be issued with 2 dresses or 2 tunics and 2 trousers. Bank Staff will be issued with 2 full uniforms. All clinical staff may purchase additional uniforms or uniform items from From the trust, a small charge for alterations e.g. taking a hem up will Be charged for. Replacement Uniforms 52. All staff uniforms should last for approximately two years. If staff require replacement uniform, they must seek the permission of their relevant line / departmental manager who will authorise the new uniform. The procedure for ordering replacement uniforms is the same as in section for issue of uniforms. 54. Staff may need to be re-measured or will be required to provide details of measurements. 55. Please note that new uniforms will not be issued until the previous uniforms have been returned. 56. A record is maintained in the sewing room of how many items of uniform each staff member has been issued. Staff will not be allowed to exceed their allocated number of uniforms. Ownership and return of Uniforms
52. Uniforms issued to health care workers / nursing / midwifery staff are the property of the Trust and must be returned to the sewing room on the last day of employment. 53. Arrangements must be made to ensure that all uniforms and the Trust ID badges and security badge are returned to the Trust on the last day of employment. 54. The attached form must be completed and signed by the nurse along with the signature of the ward/ departmental manager or Operational Nurse Manager responsible for that area. Arrangements must then be made to deliver uniforms to the sewing room in the Hospital. Failure to return uniforms promptly may delay final payment of salary. TRAINING 55. Uniform policy will be discussed as part of the pre-registration training and issues relating to dress code may be discussed as part of the infection control updates. MONITORING AND AUDIT 56. The policy will be monitored via the Nursing and Midwifery committee and annual audit will be undertaken in conjunction with the clinical audit department. REVIEW 57. The Policy will be reviewed in September 2018 REFERENCES Department of Health (2009), Uniforms and workwear: an evidence base for developing local policy, London. Royal College of Nursing (2012), Guidance on uniforms and clothing worn in the delivery of patient care, London.
Appendix 1 Nursing and Midwifery Staff Chief Nurse/Deputy Chief Nurse/Heads of Nursing Female - Red dress/red tunic with black piping and black trousers. Male - Red tunic with black piping and black trousers. Consultant Nurses Female -Navy blue dress/tunic with white spots and red piping and navy trousers. Male -Navy blue tunic with white spots and red piping and navy trousers. Senior Nurse/Clinical Nurse Specialist Female - Navy blue dress / tunic with white spots and white piping and navy trousers Male - Navy blue tunic with white spots and white piping and navy trousers Matrons Female - Turquoise dress / tunic with black piping and black trousers Male - Turquoise tunic with black piping and black trousers Practice Educators Female - Navy blue / tunic with white spots and navy piping and navy trousers Male - Navy blue tunic with white spots and navy piping and navy trousers Senior Ward Sister Female - Navy blue dress / tunic with white piping and navy trousers Male - Navy blue tunic white piping and navy trousers Junior Sister Female - Navy blue dress / tunic with navy piping and navy trousers Male - Navy blue tunic navy piping and navy trousers Staff Nurse Female Male - Royal blue dress/tunic with white piping and navy trousers - Royal blue tunic with white piping and navy trousers Midwife Female - Navy blue dress/tunic with red piping and navy trousers
Male - Navy blue tunic with red piping and navy trousers Associate Practitioners Female - Light green tunic with white piping and navy trousers Male - Light green tunic with white piping and navy trousers Healthcare Assistants Female - Pale blue dress/tunic with white piping and navy trousers Male - Pale blue tunic with white piping and navy trousers
Appendix 2 Allied Health Professional Staff Physiotherapist Female - White dress / tunic / polo shirt with navy piping and Navy trousers / track trousers Male - White tunic / polo shirt with navy piping and navy trousers / track trousers Occupational Therapist Female Male - White dress / tunic / polo shirt with green piping and green trousers - White tunic / polo shirt with green piping and green trousers Radiographer Female Male - White dress / tunic / polo shirt with red piping and navy trousers - White tunic / polo shirt with red piping and navy trousers Phlebotomist Female Male - White dress / tunic with yellow piping and navy trousers - White tunic with yellow piping and navy trousers
Appendix 3 Uniform Return Form (to be completed upon termination of employment and returned to the sewing room) Name of staff member Ward / department Last working day Number of uniform items returned ID badge returned Signature of staff member Signature of line manager Date of return Signature of sewing room staff..