The Department has not assessed the effect on the self-esteem of female hospital staff having to wear uniform.

There is advice available to hospitals on the NHS Employers website via the following links:

http://www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/plan/building-a-diverse-workforce/need-to-know/dress-codes-and-discrimination

http://www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/plan/building-a-diverse-workforce/need-to-know/wearing-face-veils-in-the-workplace

The Department first published Uniforms and Work wear: An evidence base for developing local policy in 2007, with an update to this guidance published in March 2010. A copy of this document is attached.

The guidance was informed by two extensive literature reviews conducted by Thames Valley University and by practical research on washing uniform fabrics carried out at University College Hospital. Whilst there is a theoretical risk, this work‎ supported the conclusion that there was no evidence that uniforms and workwear played a direct role in spreading infection.

Nonetheless, the clothes that staff wear should facilitate good practice and minimise any risk to patients. Public attitudes and perceptions indicate that it is good practice for staff either to change at work or to cover their uniforms as they travel to and from work. Changing into and out of uniforms at work is included as a good practice example in the guidance.

NHS England has reviewed the action taken at East Kent University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Due to an altercation between a member of the public and a member of the armed forces in uniform that had taken place the previous day, the employee concerned was acting in good faith, but handled the situation wrongly.

The Trust is absolutely clear that members of Her Majesty’s armed forces, whether in uniform or not, should not be treated differently to others. They have reinforced this policy to all members of staff and offered an apology to the patient involved for any embarrassment caused.

Additionally, NHS England is currently reviewing the East Kent University Hospitals Trust’s Equality and Diversity and Access Policies and will agree amendments if necessary. There are no plans to issue further guidance.

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.