Nurses Uniforms In Wales Withdrawn After Rash Outbreak

A range of nurse’s uniforms were introduced across Wales to help patients and staff differentiate between the different types of nurses. The move was a bid to add consistency to the uniforms worn in different hospitals across Wales. Staff nurses are assigned with hospital blue uniforms and staff midwives are dressed in postman blue. Healthcare support workers uniforms are green and aqua green will denote a nursery nurse. Rosemary Kennedy, Wales’ chief nursing officer, said: “It is essential that patients have confidence in the nursing profession. The national uniforms will help to remove any confusion over who is in charge.”

At a cost of nearly 1.5m, the traditional ’scrubs’ style uniforms were launched across the country but after a huge number of nurses reported suffering major skin irritation after wearing them urgent tests have been ordered on the fabrics used in the garments. The Welsh Assembly said the problems were a “disappointing” blow as the uniforms, made from 67 per cent polyester and 33 per cent cotton, had already undergone thorough testing before being issued.

Dermatology experts advised many of the nurses to return to their original uniforms to avoid excessive itching and rashes. Although the uniforms were scheduled to be provided to all of Wales’ 36,000 nurses and midwives, the plan was brought to a standstill after the problem emerged.

“Extensive wearer trials were also undertaken and no skin irritation was reported. Robust testing of the fabric is currently being undertaken by an independent body to establish the exact nature of the problem and, through our contractual arrangements, we expect the manufacturers to put this right,” said Rosemary Kennedy, Wales’s chief nursing officer.

Although the number of nurses who have reported skin irritation is “a minority”, the assembly government said it was concerned because the welfare of staff was “paramount”. They admitted that only a minority of staff had reported a problem so they had sufficient supplies of alternative uniforms to use.

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