Written question asked by Gordon Prentice (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 February 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 February 2008. It was answered by Ann Keen (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 February 2008 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Nurses: Uniforms

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any categories of clinical or nursing staff are exempt from the bare below the elbow rule.

Answer: No categories of clinical or nursing staff are automatically exempt from the bare below the elbows dress code. In setting local uniform policy, national health service trusts need to take account of the Department's guidance and to decide when both clinical and nursing staff are in situations where it is applicable.Clinical and nursing staff need to dress appropriately and professionally to enable them to carry out their duties. The new bare below the elbows dress code is a matter of patient safety, as it supports good hand cleaning practice and contributes to infection prevention and control.

Secondary information