A search of the Department's ministerial correspondence database has not identified any correspondence received since 1 February 2013 from ambulance trusts on the provision of stab vests for ambulance personnel. This is a minimum figure which represents correspondence received by the Department's ministerial correspondence unit only.

A search of Private Office diary and correspondence records covering the same period also found no relevant meetings or correspondence.

The Department has not issued any guidance to ambulance trusts on the provision of stab vests for ambulance personnel. Decisions on providing protective equipment for ambulance service staff, whether as standard issue or following risk assessment, are for employing trusts to make.

NHS Protect can assist employers through guidance on assessing risks and acting to protect staff and, where incidents do occur, on taking action against offenders. NHS Protect also works with stakeholders to promote the safety and security of NHS staff.

A search of the Department's ministerial correspondence database has not identified any correspondence received since 1 February 2013 from ambulance trusts on the provision of stab vests for ambulance personnel. This is a minimum figure which represents correspondence received by the Department's ministerial correspondence unit only.

A search of Private Office diary and correspondence records covering the same period also found no relevant meetings or correspondence.

The Department has not issued any guidance to ambulance trusts on the provision of stab vests for ambulance personnel. Decisions on providing protective equipment for ambulance service staff, whether as standard issue or following risk assessment, are for employing trusts to make.

NHS Protect can assist employers through guidance on assessing risks and acting to protect staff and, where incidents do occur, on taking action against offenders. NHS Protect also works with stakeholders to promote the safety and security of NHS staff.

It is for individual national health service trusts to determine their own policies on the wearing and laundering of uniforms in and around the workplace and in March 2010, the Department published refreshed guidance to help them do so: ‘Uniforms and workwear: Guidance on uniform and workwear policies for NHS employers’. A copy of this document has been placed in the Library.

One of the main conclusions of the working group that developed the guidance was that there was no conclusive evidence that uniforms or other work clothes pose a significant hazard in terms of spreading infection.

The group did though recognise that the public believe there is a risk and do not like seeing hospital staff in uniform away from the workplace.

A trust's chief executive has the responsibility for ensuring that hospital staff have enough suitable clothing and equipment to carry out their work effectively and to make any other supporting arrangements that may be necessary.

As well as an evidence base, the Uniforms and Workwear guidance identified examples of good (and poor) practice that were based on common sense rather than scientific evidence. Changing into and out of uniforms at work is included as a good practice example in the guidance.

It is for individual national health service trusts to determine their own policies on the wearing and laundering of uniforms in and around the workplace and in March 2010, the Department published refreshed guidance to help them do so: “Uniforms and workwear: Guidance on uniform and workwear policies for NHS employers”.

Scientific observations and tests, literature reviews and expert opinion suggest that washing with detergents at 30°C will remove most gram positive micro-organisms, including all meticillin-resistant ‘Staphylococcus aureus’, while a 10 minute wash at 60°C is sufficient to remove almost all micro organisms. In tests, only 0.1% of any ‘Clostridium difficile’ spores remained. Microbiologists carrying out the work advise that this level of contamination on uniforms and workwear is not a cause for concern.

NHS trusts are required to comply with a number of essential standards of safety and quality in order to maintain registration with the Care Quality Commission. The standard in relation to cleanliness and infection prevention and control requires registered providers to have dress codes in place that ensure clothing worn by staff when carrying out their duties is clean and fit for purpose. Particular consideration should also be given to items of attire that may inadvertently come into contact with the person being care for.

It is for individual national health service trusts to determine their own policies on the wearing and laundering of uniforms in and around the workplace and in March 2010, the Department published refreshed guidance to help them do so: “Uniforms and workwear: Guidance on uniform and workwear policies for NHS employers”.

Scientific observations and tests, literature reviews and expert opinion suggest that washing with detergents at 30°C will remove most gram positive micro-organisms, including all meticillin-resistant ‘Staphylococcus aureus’, while a 10 minute wash at 60°C is sufficient to remove almost all micro organisms. In tests, only 0.1% of any ‘Clostridium difficile’ spores remained. Microbiologists carrying out the work advise that this level of contamination on uniforms and workwear is not a cause for concern.

NHS trusts are required to comply with a number of essential standards of safety and quality in order to maintain registration with the Care Quality Commission. The standard in relation to cleanliness and infection prevention and control requires registered providers to have dress codes in place that ensure clothing worn by staff when carrying out their duties is clean and fit for purpose. Particular consideration should also be given to items of attire that may inadvertently come into contact with the person being care for.

It is for individual national health service trusts to determine their own policies on the wearing and laundering of uniforms in and around the workplace and in March 2010, the Department published refreshed guidance to help them do so: “Uniforms and workwear: Guidance on uniform and workwear policies for NHS employers”.

Scientific observations and tests, literature reviews and expert opinion suggest that washing with detergents at 30°C will remove most gram positive micro-organisms, including all meticillin-resistant ‘Staphylococcus aureus’, while a 10 minute wash at 60°C is sufficient to remove almost all micro organisms. In tests, only 0.1% of any ‘Clostridium difficile’ spores remained. Microbiologists carrying out the work advise that this level of contamination on uniforms and workwear is not a cause for concern.

NHS trusts are required to comply with a number of essential standards of safety and quality in order to maintain registration with the Care Quality Commission. The standard in relation to cleanliness and infection prevention and control requires registered providers to have dress codes in place that ensure clothing worn by staff when carrying out their duties is clean and fit for purpose. Particular consideration should also be given to items of attire that may inadvertently come into contact with the person being care for.