AILEEN’S UNIFORM ATLAS
The Pulse is pleased to present Aileen’s Uniform Atlas, a recurring feature written by Aileen Out.
Out is the owner of Prettybusiness, a news blog in the Netherlands that focuses exclusively on work clothing.

The British government is working on a national uniform program for hospitals. Instead of each organization providing its own clothing, all employees will soon look the same. It is a unique project that, so far, seems to offer many advantages. Will more countries follow this example, and what are the challenges of this project?

The advantages of a national uniform

When you read about the National Health Service (NHS) program, you immediately wonder why this wasn’t implemented earlier. It is a large project but offers benefits for all parties involved. When the government itself purchases all the uniforms, a lot of money is saved. Currently, 23 million pounds are spent annually on the uniforms that hospitals order individually. It is expected that after the introduction of the national uniform, 10 million pounds will be saved after two years.

With the new clothing package, each function will have its own color. In total, there are 29 different uniforms, each with its own appearance. The great advantage of this is that both healthcare workers, visitors, and patients will know better who to approach with questions. Research has shown that 55% of patients find it difficult to identify the right staff members.

Finally, sustainability, cultural diversity, and inclusivity play an important role. The clothing is made from recycled material and must fit everyone. With gender-neutral sizing, the NHS hopes to ensure that everyone feels welcome in the new uniform.

An example that can be copied?

The idea of making hospital staff recognizable through colored uniforms has existed for a while. However, at the moment, it is mainly the hospitals themselves that implement such a system, and each does it in its own way.

In Canada, it was the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance that first introduced a completely colored uniform package in their hospitals in 2015. Until then, there were organizations that used colors to distinguish functions, but this never applied to all hospital staff. At the University Hospital in Gent (Belgium), they also chose recognizable uniforms in 2022, but only in two colors. Medical staff wear a white coat with blue details, and other staff members wear a blue coat with white details. This does make it clear for everyone, but the question remains whether a complete color palette might create more chaos.

Perhaps a uniform package with 29 colors is a bit excessive. It is questionable whether the average British citizen, who doesn’t visit a hospital regularly, will remember the meaning of the colors. And I also have reservations about gender-neutral sizes. Making everyone feel welcome is important, but men and women have different body types, which requires a different fit. In recent weeks, the new clothing has been tested for the first time in a hospital in Derby. I am curious about the outcomes of this trial and how the nationwide rollout will take place. If this project proves successful, I can imagine that other countries will follow the British example. To be continued…