Radiant in red: Hospitals’ most senior nurses leading the way in new uniforms
Senior nursing staff at Epsom and St Helier hospitals are sporting bright new uniforms that help make them more recognisable to patients and visitors.
The distinctive red uniforms are worn by the trust’s most senior nurses, which includes all heads of nursing and the Chief Nurse, who is responsible for all nursing and midwifery care at the trust. Deputy Chief Nurse, Carole Webster, explained: “We know how important it is for patients and visitors to know who’s who around the hospital and to be able to recognise the staff involved in their care – our great new uniforms make it easier than ever for people to spot us!
“We have a range of different coloured uniforms across our nursing teams to help people know who’s who on the ward, whether that be a staff nurse or the ward manager or matron who has responsibility for the nursing care delivered in that particular area. It is important that our senior nursing team are included in this, and that people know who they can go to for additional support and information”, explained Carole.
Tracy Whelan, Joint Head of Nursing for Medicine, said: “The whole senior nursing team, me included, are thrilled with our new uniforms. We take a lot of pride in supporting our patients and the nursing teams across our hospitals, and these new uniforms certainly help make us more visible!”.
Carole and the heads of nursing have already put the bright new uniforms to good use, wearing them to support the launch of new banners providing information about the trust’s protected mealtimes policy. “We know that patients in hospital recover faster if they are well-fed and stay hydrated. Having protected mealtimes in place at our hospitals means that all activity not related to nutritional care stops during breakfast, lunch and the evening meal, which helps make sure that our patients can eat without unnecessary interruptions”, explained Carole.
The banners, which feature Chief Nurse Charlotte Hall in her new red uniform, were produced by the trust’s patient catering provider Mitie and will be placed at the entrance to every ward to help raise awareness about protected mealtimes and ensure that they are observed.
