Nurses' Uniforms (Hansard, 23 July 2004)

HC Deb 23 July 2004 vol 424 cc921-2W 921W

§ Mr. Hoyle
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what system of monitoring is carried out by NHS trusts to ensure nurses' uniforms laundered domestically are free from infection; and if he will make a statement; [186038]
(2) what the policy is in NHS trusts on the laundering of nurses' uniforms by individuals at home; and if he will make a statement; [186041]
(3) what proportion of nurses' uniforms in NHS trusts are laundered (a) at home and (b) under contract arrangements; [186042]
(4) what the policy is in NHS trusts on the wearing by nurses of their hospital uniform while travelling to and from their place of work. [186044]

§ Mr. Hutton
It is the responsibility of each national health service trust to determine its own policies regarding the supply, laundering and wearing of uniforms by nurses. The trust's chief executive has responsibility for ensuring that nurses have enough suitable clothing and equipment to carry out their work effectively. Generally, nurses would use protective clothing, such as aprons and gloves to prevent soiling of their uniforms. We are not aware of any evidence that uniforms are a significant source of hospital infections.
922W
Information relating to the proportion of nurses' uniforms that are laundered at home or under contract arrangements is not collected centrally.

§ Mr. Hoyle
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether HSG (95) 18 applies to the laundering of nurses' uniforms; and if he will make a statement; [186039]
(2) at what temperatures nurses' uniforms should be laundered to ensure they are free from bacteria; and if he will make a statement; [186043]
(3) what research his Department has carried out to establish whether domestic washing machines are capable of washing nurses' uniforms to the required hygiene standards; and if he will make a statement. [186201]

§ Mr. Hutton
Health Service Guidelines, reference (HSG(95)18), set out in detail the proper procedures for the handling of used and infected laundry and linen, including uniforms.
The Department has not carried out research related to domestic washing machines. However, the advice from microbiologists is that a wash at a domestic washer temperature of 60 degrees C, followed by a rinse cycle, is more than adequate to ensure the removal of bacteria.