Question
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect changing facilities for nurses to be mandatory in all NHS hospitals. [HL1641]
It is the responsibility of each National Health Service trust to develop and maintain its own policies in relation to the provision of changing facilities for staff. A trust's chief executive has the responsibility for ensuring that nurses have enough suitable clothing and equipment to carry out their work effectively and to make any other supporting arrangements that may be necessary.
In order to support and advise trusts in the review and maintenance of such local policies, the department's Working Group on Uniforms and Laundry put together an evidence base on the wearing and laundering of uniforms outlining the existing legal requirements and current research findings. This document, Uniforms and Workwear: Evidence Base for Developing Local Policy, was published in September 2007 and a copy has already been placed in the Library. Copies can also be obtained via the department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH078433.