NHS Supply Chain, with NHS England and NHS Improvement, issued a consultation paper in April 2021 asking the workforce if they were supportive of the introduction of a national uniform, and 82% responded in favour of this approach. As part of the sourcing process, potential suppliers have been asked to submit a design for a smart scrub and provide a range of garments in different sizes which could be trialled across the NHS.

Once a preferred design has been agreed, further trials will take place to ensure this design meets the needs of the NHS before being finalised. NHS Supply Chain hope to complete this process by the end of this year. Both sustainability and social value form a significant element of the evaluation process. As this is an active procurement process, details of the evaluation approach cannot be declared but these areas will be addressed.

NHS Supply Chain, with NHS England and NHS Improvement, issued a consultation paper in April 2021 asking the workforce if they were supportive of the introduction of a national uniform, and 82% responded in favour of this approach. As part of the sourcing process, potential suppliers have been asked to submit a design for a smart scrub and provide a range of garments in different sizes which could be trialled across the NHS.

Once a preferred design has been agreed, further trials will take place to ensure this design meets the needs of the NHS before being finalised. NHS Supply Chain hope to complete this process by the end of this year. Both sustainability and social value form a significant element of the evaluation process. As this is an active procurement process, details of the evaluation approach cannot be declared but these areas will be addressed.

NHS Supply Chain, with NHS England and NHS Improvement, issued a consultation paper in April 2021 asking the workforce if they were supportive of the introduction of a national uniform, and 82% responded in favour of this approach. As part of the sourcing process, potential suppliers have been asked to submit a design for a smart scrub and provide a range of garments in different sizes which could be trialled across the NHS.

Once a preferred design has been agreed, further trials will take place to ensure this design meets the needs of the NHS before being finalised. NHS Supply Chain hope to complete this process by the end of this year. Both sustainability and social value form a significant element of the evaluation process. As this is an active procurement process, details of the evaluation approach cannot be declared but these areas will be addressed.

At present, each trust decides their own uniform specification locally. However, NHS Supply Chain, with NHS England and NHS Improvement, issued a consultation paper in April 2021 on the introduction of a national uniform, with 82% of staff responding in favour. NHS Supply Chain and NHS England and NHS Improvement are exploring a national approach to standardising the purchasing and design of uniforms. Trials of uniform designs are ongoing at a range of acute and non-acute National Health Service trusts across the country.

The information requested is not collected centrally.

Uniforms are workwear and are typically purchased directly by trusts who contract with a number of different suppliers. NHS Supply Chain and NHS England and NHS Improvement are developing a project to adopt a national approach to standardising the purchase of uniforms.