Domestic laundering of nurses’ uniforms: what are the risks? (2018)

A long time ago when I joined the NHS you were given more uniforms than the number of days you worked to allow for laundry turnaround.  Nowadays uniforms seem to be rationed and uniforms given out as items rather than outfits, this means if you wear trousers you don't end up with enough outfits to be able to do a batch wash.  There is now a lack of changing facilities so it is common place for staff to travel to and from work in uniform even when using public transport.

The laundry system did work well in my experience, given that there were changing rooms and everyone had their own locker.  A member of staff was assigned to sorting out the uniforms and putting the clean uniforms either out on a shelf in name letter order of they were left on top of your locker.  This system made it easy for staff to comply with having a clean freshly laundered uniform for every shift and eliminated the need for staff to be seen outside hospital in uniform.

Hi Mary @Mary Thank you for your post. You may be interested in reading the blog we recently published "COVID-19: What are you wearing" and the conversations following it: 

@Kathy Nabbie @Claire Cox