The NHS Healthcare Uniform is aimed at transforming the approach to uniform provision across NHS trusts in England. The framework delivers exceptional value for money, enhanced sustainability, improved professional image, and fosters an inclusive culture in which everybody feels seen, respected, and valued.
The NHS in England spends around £23 million every year on uniforms and the cost per garment varies hugely across the country as each trust has its own style and colours.
NHS Supply Chain has led the procurement project to introduce a standardised approach to uniforms, which will simplify the process; introducing a standardised set of high quality, innovative garments developed in collaboration with healthcare professionals.
The commencement of the framework represents the first step in creating a unified approach to uniforms for the healthcare workforce in England.
The greater the uptake of the new NHS Healthcare Uniform across NHS trusts in England, the greater the opportunity for leveraging NHS spend to create savings opportunities and drive social value for trusts and their communities.
NHS trusts can access the framework to purchase a range of uniform garments when appropriate in their replacement cycle.
The framework has been established through a competitive dialogue process to appoint suppliers to deliver high quality, sustainable uniforms. NHS Supply Chain have a dedicated team on hand to support trusts who choose to adopt the uniform, to find the best solution for their needs considering factors such as budget, sustainability, and future proofing the workforce.
The initiative will yield a saving of approximately 30% across the NHS and follows that of the devolved nations, encapsulating values of innovation, adaptability, and unity. The framework represents a significant step forward across the NHS in England.
The scope of this project covers professionals working within clinical roles, equating to approximately 600,000 wearers, including Allied Health Professions, Healthcare Sciences, Nursing, Midwifery and Pharmacy.
Latest updates and events
See our Useful Links section to keep up to date with all of the latest news about our NHS Healthcare Uniform including the following news articles:
- Framework for NHS Healthcare Uniforms.
- NHS Healthcare Uniform – our project values.
- The Social Impact of the NHS Healthcare Uniforms.
See our Downloads ▼ section to download these useful tools and project information.
- Colourways Palette.
- NHS Healthcare Uniform – Our Project Values.
Wearer trials
Building on the initial feedback from stakeholders in the workforce consultation, a design brief was sculpted and suppliers presented garments tailored to these specifications. To refine our approach, these prototypes underwent two phases of rigorous field tests:
Phase one: Supported by NHS England, 10 trusts representing all health and care settings and professions, took part in a blind wash and wear trial.
- 1,000 garment sets were distributed across these 10 wearer trial sites.
- Colleagues wore the garments and provided feedback as to how they performed in a live working environment.
- More than 400 colleagues responded, and their feedback was used to outline what the most important features of the garments were.
Phase two: Coupling this invaluable feedback with insights from independent industry experts, we honed a comprehensive garment specification, which was once again trialled in situ.
- 87% stated the garments provided a full range of movement.
- 73% stated the fabric supported a comfortable temperature.
- Wearers said the uniform was easy to launder and required little to no ironing.
Colourways
Carefully curated, the colourways were chosen in conjunction with NHS England and healthcare professional bodies to provide a coherent and recognisable visual system across trusts who choose to implement the NHS Healthcare Uniform at the end of their current uniform cycle. The chosen base colours and contrasting trim for the top will clearly denote each professional group.
The scope of the NHS Healthcare Uniform covers all trusts including acute, community and mental health settings. NHS Supply Chain is working with trusts who would like to adopt the uniform to help determine which role sits within which colourways in their trust.
See our Downloads ▼ section for the full breakdown of the colours for each profession.
Pathfinder trust
To support the implementation of the NHS Healthcare Uniforms in trusts, we have collaborated with early adopters known as ‘pathfinder trusts.’ These pathfinders are shaping the future implementation process for other trusts who choose to adopt the uniform. Their involvement ensures a smoother transition benefitting both healthcare staff and patients.
As a former chief nurse, I know what an emotive and personal subject uniform can be. There is an immense pride in wearing an NHS uniform and being part of a system that represents care, compassion, and kindness. We are very proud to have reached this stage, with the first pathfinder trusts soon to receive delivery of the new NHS Healthcare Uniform.
We have come full circle from the initial workforce consultation where NHS colleagues told us what they wanted from their new uniform, to producing and delivering a uniform that has been designed, tested, and trialled by frontline colleagues and represents the rich diversity of our NHS workforce.
Sustainability is a key value of this project and was part of the specification of the uniforms resulting in 100% recycled polyester and cotton sourced through the Better Cotton Initiative being used in the construction of the garments.
If your trust is looking at a uniform replacement programme, I would encourage you to contact our team.
The project has been a huge undertaking, and the feedback and experiences of our pathfinder trusts has been invaluable, helping us shape and refine the implementation process for the next cycle of trusts adopting the uniform.
I’m looking forward to seeing colleagues in the new uniform over the coming months.
Michelle Johnson, Clinical Executive Director NHS Supply Chain
Register your interest
If you would like to find out more about the NHS Healthcare Uniforms framework, please fill in your details and a member of our team will contact you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Following feedback on the open consultation we have identified some themes and frequently asked questions:
To ensure that this project was viable, extensive engagement was conducted with trusts, senior leaders, professional bodies, and unions to ensure the NHS Healthcare Uniform best fits the needs of the NHS.
Working with NHS England representatives and more than 200 clinical professionals representing trusts from across England, a series of workshops were hosted to identify key themes, including: the requirements for the garments fit and function, the importance of the professional identity and other key factors.
This feedback was used to form the National Workforce consultation, with the aim to determine whether there was an appetite for a national approach to uniforms with end wearers. The consultation received an astonishing 50,710 responses, with over half from nursing professionals, followed by Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) and midwives. 82% of respondents agreed that a standardised NHS Healthcare Uniform should be adopted.
Around 9% of responses came from other professions including Pharmacists and Healthcare Scientists, who at that point were not in scope. However, through working with key representatives from these professions are now included.
No, adoption of the NHS Healthcare Uniform is a trust-led decision.
If you would like to register your interest in adopting the uniform within your trust, please get in touch with us via nationaluniforms@supplychain.nhs.uk.
No, NHS trusts already have budgets allocated for uniforms. By harnessing the full purchasing power of the NHS and standardising our design, materials, and colours, we are able to reduce the cost of uniforms whilst at the same time ensuring we procure a high-quality garment which meets the needs of our healthcare professionals. The actual savings to be made by each trust will vary depending on the current price, but across England we can deliver around 30% savings. This equates to around £10 million over two years if all NHS trusts adopt the new uniform.
The scope of the NHS Healthcare Uniform covers all trusts including acute, community and mental health settings. NHS Supply Chain is working with trusts who would like to adopt the uniform to help determine which role sits within which colourways in their trust, whilst still maintaining the overall benefits of the national approach. Trusts who choose to adopt the uniform will be supported by NHS Supply Chain to map their staff roles against the colourways.
Yes, if these groups currently wear a uniform and are part of the NHS workforce. It has been suggested that having uniform consistency across all settings could help provide better understanding across the entire patient pathway.
For Paramedics, there is a separate NHS Supply Chain framework.
See our Useful Links section to read about National Ambulance Uniforms and General Workwear framework.
We are aware that there are many clinical settings where it is not deemed appropriate to wear a uniform because of the effect this may have on a patient. It is not the intention of this proposal to change that. Any changes to uniform policy will be a trust decision.
Yes. The NHS workforce reflects the diverse communities that they take care of across the country.
This uniform created for the future encompasses and celebrates the differences across our varied workforce. The design meets the needs of a modern, diverse, and inclusive health service and is culturally sensitive. NHS colleagues have evaluated the uniform, throughout the process, to ensure the fit of the garments are appropriate for use in a diverse workforce.
Communication around the adoption and rollout of the NHS Healthcare Uniform would be made at trust level. We will support trusts to share the information with patients.
The NHS Healthcare Uniform has been designed for all body types. The uniform is well designed, high quality and inclusive for all. We have collaborated very closely with our suppliers and specialists to do this and have undertaken extensive wearer trials with NHS staff from different professions to ensure this uniform is the best possible fit and truly represents the diversity of the NHS workforce.
As well as the smart scrub top, dresses have been included in the scope of the NHS Healthcare Uniform in all colourways and will be available for staff to wear.
The NHS Healthcare Uniform will provide comfort for all wearers. In comparison to a traditional tunic, our chosen fabric is considerably lighter, offering a cooler wearing experience. In terms of the fabric, it is a 2 in 1 twill mix of Recycled Polyester/Cotton sourced through the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). The fabric composition was selected as it must withstand NHS laundry guidelines, and this mix ensures that it will retain its composition. Additionally, feedback from wearers told us that the garments should be easy to wash and dry and require little ironing. The uniform fabric incorporates at least 10% mechanical stretch, further enhancing comfort for wearers. that the garments have been subjected to industry testing by an independent testing house to ensure durability.
We have designed this framework to allow for flexibility where necessary.
If you would like to discuss the options available for bespoke requirements, please contact a member of the Implementation and Adoption Team on nationaluniforms@supplychain.nhs.uk
As part of the implementation process, our team can support you with putting together your internal proposal to decision makers at your trust. We have a resource document that can support you with key information to include in your adoption proposal and setting up a team within your trust to help the rollout process run smoothly. We also have a financial tool available to give you an indication of the savings impact against current spend. Please contact a member of the Implementation and Adoption team for assistance.
Where trusts do not have existing arrangements in place both of our awarded suppliers can provide details of a third-party provider who can compliantly recycle redundant garments. Recycling of garments can be discussed with trusts on an individual basis during the implementation process. These efforts reflect a commitment to fighting climate change and embedding sustainability throughout the supply chain.
The NHS Healthcare Uniform presents an opportunity to standardise uniforms across NHS trusts, there are currently more than 30,000 different styles and uniform variations, the framework will significantly reduce the number of colours and styles to help facilitate better recognition and understanding.
For trusts who wish to share materials to support those who are colourblind with the change to the NHS Healthcare Uniform, resources are available through Colourblind Awareness.
See our Useful Links section to find out more on Colourblind Awareness.
