Roles of NHS staff made clearer by uniform roll-out at Herefordshire and Worcestershire trust
Colour-coded clinical uniforms have been handed out to more than 3,000 staff at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
Uniforms designed to make the jobs of NHS staff easier to identify and understand has been introduced by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust.
More than 3,000 have received the colour-coded workwear, adopting what are the new national ones for the health service that prioritise comfort, durability and infection prevention, and were co-designed from feedback from patients, carers, and NHS staff.
They commented on how it could sometimes be hard to clearly work out the different roles on busy wards, and means for example, nurses are recognised through shades of blue, while matrons would wear purple and head of departments tending to be in black.
On the roll-out, Hannah Wilson, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust's deputy chief nursing officer and chief allied health professional, said: "This is about kind of clarity and reassurance, especially for patients, and just as importantly, it's about promoting that professional image and an inclusive culture where everyone feels seen, respected and valued in what they're doing.
"It will be helpful in some really practical ways for patients and for our staff, so for patients and families it's about improving confidence and their communication so you can more easily identify things like who is my nurse, who might help me with my medications, without having to feel about awkward about asking that.
"Sometimes we know that when people are unwell or anxious, anything that helps care feel clearer and more approachable really matters to people."
She added: "This doesn't replace staff introducing themselves clearly, explaining who they are and what they do.
"All our staff will continue to wear name badges that clearly identify that as well, so people don't have to be concerned that they don't instantly know what the new colours mean."
The trust said it is "part of a wider effort to improve patient experience, safety, and communication", with the uniform also supporting its Net Zero commitment and made using Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) cotton and 100% recycled polyester.