"Uniforms"

I would like to suggest that all medical and nursing staff refrain from wearing their uniforms whilst visiting the town in their dinner breaks.

The uniform is provided to protect patients and staff from cross contamination but how can this be if staff wear their uniform in town centres wherby they can pick up germs etc from the town and then continue to work in surgical and medical areas when they return to work with people who have open wounds or who have low immunity due to illness.

There is so much media coverage about MRSA and staff are not taking remedial precautions to prevent this occurance. Wards are allowed to accumulate debris under beds and at home this would not happen so why can it happen in such sterile areas such as hospitals.

I hope my suggestions have been listened to and that all uniform staff will be required to change before leaving hospital premises.

15 years ago when i was working in catering i was not allowed to leave the kitchens in my uniform yet now nursing staff can.

I suppose it will be argued that lunch times will be reduced by having to change but lets be serious here - surely patient care is the first priority and protecting them should be first and foremost.