Derby hospitals trust staff first to pilot new NHS uniforms

Staff are to be sized up for new clothing in the coming weeks

Hospital staff in Derby will be the first to wear a new range of NHS uniforms.

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust (UHDB) has been chosen to pilot newly-designed uniforms which are being rolled out across England.

Thousands of local clinical staff will get their new uniforms in the coming weeks.

The trust said the colours would help patients identify nurses, students and other medical professionals.

The NHS said it scheme would cut the the cost of uniforms nationally by about 30%

A UHDB spokesperson said: "After months of planning, including matching uniforms to professional groups, we are looking forward to working with NHS Supply Chain and manufacturers in the coming weeks to size up our workforce and rollout the new uniforms this summer."

The trust said 9,000 staff would get new uniforms which would provide patients with "better clarity on who is providing their care".

It said the uniforms would consider "cultural considerations of different groups" and offer "long-term savings and sustainability improvements".

The NHS said it spend about £23m every year on uniforms and the cost per garment varied hugely around the country, as each trust has its own style and colours.

It said the new national uniform roll out would yield a saving of approximately 30% nationally on clothing costs.