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Monday Jun 23
Nurses across Wales are to be issued with the same uniform so that patients can easily see who is in control and to help stop infection spreading.
Health Minister Edwina Hart is to announce plans to introduce an all-Wales uniform within about two years.
"I want to ensure that anyone entering our hospitals in Wales knows immediately who is a nurse and who is in charge," she said.
A design will be sought which will minimise the risk of infection.
A working group of members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), the union Unison and the Royal College of Midwives was asked to investigate. Its members were told to look at ways of improving the patient experience and empowering ward sisters and charge nurses.
But their investigation found patients confused because there is no consistent approach on hospital uniforms.
The group came up with recommendations which will mean different staff grades in every Welsh NHS trust will have their own standard uniform to allow patients to distinguish who does what on the ward.
Other recommendations to improve hygiene, cleanliness and the patient experience will be included in the working group's report published this week.
Ms Hart said: "A new nationally-recognised uniform will be symbolic of the individual and the organisation.
"It will not only convey identity, but also a reassurance to patients and relatives and a sense of solidarity and pride among staff themselves."
The new uniform will also be designed to reduce the risk of hospital infections spreading, Ms Hart added.
She said this would help meet the commitment to improve hospital cleanliness under the One Wales document agreed by the Labour and Plaid Cymru assembly government coalition.
Article from BBC News
23rd June 2008
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