Ripping yarn as nurses rush for new uniforms

NHS staff in Scotland are going to extraordinary lengths to get hold of new uniforms by tearing up their old outfits, a leaked e-mail suggests.

Last year the Scottish Government unveiled the new tunic-style uniforms to replace the many different items of clothing being used across the country.

The uniforms are being phased in gradually, replacing old uniforms as they are needed, with all staff in Scotland expected to have them by 2012.

But it seems that some staff in NHS Grampian are unwilling to wait to get their new tunics and are trying to "jump the queue" by damaging their old uniforms.

Yesterday the Scottish Government said it was pleased that the new uniforms were so popular, but nursing leaders said they were not aware that this was actually a problem among staff.

In recent years across the NHS Scotland, more than 250 different styles of tunic have been used in more than 100 different colours. The new uniform comprises a single tunic style in several shades of blue and green, with each colour relating to different groups of staff.

An e-mail circulated by NHS Grampian nursing services manager Frances Dunne, but originally written by another staff member, highlighted the problem of potential damage to old uniforms.

"The new National Uniform is proving to be very popular and as a consequence some NHS Grampian staff are going to extraordinary lengths to obtain it," it said.

"Whilst for the most part the behaviours of uniformed staff and their managers - at all levels - may be described as 'antics', some are negligent, dishonest and in a number of extreme cases, fraudulent."

The e-mail went on to say that sewing-room staff would now request to see an old uniform to check that the clothing has lasted as long as expected.

The e-mail added: "I would far rather focus mine and my staff's efforts on uniform distribution to the betterment of the service as opposed to investigating the conduct and role of staff involved in the procurement of uniform. If necessary I shall."

NHS Grampian stressed that no staff had been disciplined as a result of damaged uniforms.

All NHS staff who currently wear a uniform - from nurses to catering staff to allied health professionals such as physiotherapists - will be required to wear the new uniform once it is fully rolled out in 2012.

An NHS Grampian spokeswoman said: "In Grampian our priority is to new starts, then those who have waited longest. It appears, however, that some staff are so anxious to obtain the new uniform that they have been trying to jump the queue.No-one has been disciplined."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "We are pleased that the new uniform is proving so popular."

A Royal College of Nursing Scotland spokeswoman said: "RCN Scotland is investigating this, but has no firm evidence of it happening on the ground. If it were, we would obviously not condone this behaviour, which wastes precious NHS resources.

"Obviously the move to the new NHS uniforms is a positive story and we're keen to work with NHS Grampian and other health boards to make sure they are effectively introduced."