Nurses (& the like) wearing scrubs outside the workplace.

xxJudexx

I don't know what the legislations are but surely it is common sense to change when you have/are about to come in contact with ill people. For you own and their benefit. Even when I worked in a bakery 6 or 7 years ago we weren't allowed to wear our uniform outside of work. We were required to get changed on the premises.

I conduct my mums dialysis at home and while I don't wear certain clothes for it I do wear a protective apron which is one use only, as well as a one use only surgical mask and gloves.

dizziblonde

DomRavioli wrote: »

The majority of bacterial infections in hospital are caused either by the bacterium being on the patient already, or it being brought in usually from friends and family. A tiny percentage across the whole NHS is caused by a health care professional.

We lost a relative last year due to a hospital-acquired infection. Thank you for blaming us, him and anyone but the NHS for his death. That tiny percentage - that's people's families you're dismissing on the grounds of your own convenience... but obviously just acceptable collateral damage.

Hopefully you never have to go through the experience of seeing someone you love go in with something minor, and end up in intensive care watching their body shut down because the NHS and filthy hospitals and staff who couldn't give a monkeys about patient care (the only point he got staff who DID care was way beyond it being too late) and just wanted the easy life all hte way die.

pug_in_a_bed

I asked my parents about this as they both trained as nurses in the early sixties until the 1990's.

Both said that it was absolutely a hanging offence to wear your uniform out of work, but that once matrons were gotten rid of things changed rapidly. Obviously it was a different time and they both believe this, and the contracting out of cleaners, had a detrimental affect on the nhs.

I live near a hospital and to be honest I'd be surprised to meet a member of staff who didn't arrive or leave in their uniform.

fashionlover10

I have never understood this practice. I used to work in a well known bakers where we were told, in no uncertain terms, that we were not to leave the shop in our uniform.
Surely my job was less of a risk to the public than a nurses in terms of contamination?

Apollonia

This is an interesting read:

http://www.bma.org.uk/employmentandcontracts/working_arrangements/CCSCdresscode051207.jsp#.T1phqXnZRPc

Uniforms and workwear: An evidence base for developing local policy
Conclusions for employers:

• There is no conclusive evidence that uniforms (or other work clothes) are a significant source of cross-infection.
• The public believe there is a risk, and dislike seeing hospital staff in uniform away from the workplace.
• A ten-minute wash at 60C is sufficient to remove most micro-organisms
• Using detergents means that many organisms can be removed from fabrics at lower temperatures. MRSA is completely removed following a wash at 30C
• There is no conclusive evidence that commercial laundering is more or less effective than domestic laundering in removing micro-organisms.
• The way staff dress will send messages to the patients they care for, and to the public.
• It is sensible for trusts to consider what messages they are trying to convey, and to advise on dress codes accordingly.
• Both infection control and public confidence should underpin a trust's uniform policy, but the two are not necessarily interchangeable.

The entire updated document is here:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_114754.pdf

WhiteHorse

The BMA document is a masterpiece of dissembling.

There is no conclusive evidence that uniforms (or other work clothes) are a significant source of cross-infection.

Very careful phraseology. They haven't lied and they haven't told the truth, either.

A ten-minute wash at 60C is sufficient to remove most micro-organisms.

'Most'. That's nice and vague.

Using detergents means that many organisms can be removed from fabrics at lower temperatures. MRSA is completely removed following a wash at 30C.

'Many'. Vague again. Note that the only specific given refers to MRSA.

There is no conclusive evidence that commercial laundering is more or less effective than domestic laundering in removing micro-organisms.

Again, note the careful phraseology.

nuttywoman

fashionlover10 wrote: »

I have never understood this practice. I used to work in a well known bakers where we were told, in no uncertain terms, that we were not to leave the shop in our uniform.
Surely my job was less of a risk to the public than a nurses in terms of contamination?

I used to work in the kitchens of a school and we were`nt allowed to wear our uniforms out of the kitchen, in fact we had to wash them on the premises as well

WhiteHorse

DomRavioli wrote: »

The majority of bacterial infections in hospital are caused either by the bacterium being on the patient already, or it being brought in usually from friends and family. A tiny percentage across the whole NHS is caused by a health care professional.

Sources please.

Perhaps if certain healthcare professionals (HCAs, nurses etc) were paid a living wage they would be able to afford to do these things. Where I live, the average nurse earns 18k per annum for a 66 hour working week, and could get more money in an office job, so leave nurses alone!

Not relevant.

Nine_Lives

fashionlover10 wrote: »

I have never understood this practice. I used to work in a well known bakers where we were told, in no uncertain terms, that we were not to leave the shop in our uniform.
Surely my job was less of a risk to the public than a nurses in terms of contamination?

Thing is, are those people responsible willing to take the risks these days? Nowadays everyone wants to point the finger & look for someone to sue when things get messy. Nobody wants to be sued, so they do what they can. Understandable really.

mumps

I am surprised people are saying nurses are on £18k for a 66 hrs week. An old colleague left to train as a nurse and qualified as a nurse 18 months ago. She has told me with unsocial hours payments and the odd shift on overtime she is earning about double that figure for fewer hours.