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National Ambulance Uniforms

Our buying guide for the National Ambulance Uniforms and general workwear

The Nationally endorsed NHS framework National Ambulance Uniforms and General Workwear provides core uniform garments and general workwear items for the NHS Ambulance Service Trusts.

This agreement has had extensive input from key stakeholders across the UK, including the National Ambulance Uniform User Group; comprising of frontline paramedics and operational staff.

National Ambulance Uniforms
Image for illustration purposes only.

The lotting structure for the National Ambulance Uniforms framework is as follows:

The National Ambulance Uniforms and General Workwear Framework consists of two lots, one for core uniform garments and another for general workwear items. Each lot has a different way to order products.

Lot One – Core Uniform Garments  

  • 3 in 1 Multifunctional Interchangeable Coat  
  • Beanie Hat  
  • Canvas Belt  
  • Enhanced Visionary Trouser*  
  • Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Operational Shirt  
  • EOC Polo Shirt  
  • Hi Viz Tabard  
  • Hi Viz Jacket
  • Hi Viz Trouser 
  • Knee Pads 
  • Leather Belt 
  • Non-Safety Boot (Water Resistant)  
  • Non-Safety Boot (Waterproof) 
  • Operational Shirt  
  • Operational Trouser 
  • Polo Shirt     
  • Safety Boot (Water Resistant)
  • Safety Boot (Waterproof)
  • Support Staff 3 in 1 Multifunctional Interchangeable Coat 
  • Support Staff Beanie Hat  
  • Support Staff Operational Shirt  
  • Support Staff Polo Shirt   
  • Vegan Belt
  • White T-Shirt.  

*Please note Enhanced Visionary Trousers are not currently available to order. The new trouser is currently being designed, developed, tested and trialled with the NHS Ambulance Service for their specific use Upon availability, National Ambulance Uniform User Group representatives will be advised.

Lot Two: General Workwear Items

  • Ambulance Skirt
  • Baseball Cap
  • Black T-Shirt
  • Blue T-Shirt
  • EOC Fleece Sweater
  • Helmets
  • Helmet and PPE Bag
  • Helmet Bag (Padded Drawstring)
  • Hijab
  • Kippah
  • Maternity wear
  • Occupational Footwear Boot
  • Occupational Footwear Shoe
  • Softshell
  • Turban
  • Utility Belt
  • Vegan Footwear (Non-Safety)
  • Vegan Footwear (Safety)
  • White Shirt (Officer).

See our Downloads ▼ section for National Ambulance Uniforms and General Workwear – Garment Brochure.

How to order

From 1 September 2022 products can be obtained through your trust’s standard purchase ordering process for lot two General Workwear Items. Contact your National Ambulance Uniform User Group representative for further details on how to do this.

See our Useful Links section for full details on item pricing please view the Supplier Matrices on the Contract Information Page.

Please note: an online ordering portal has been developed for garments on lot one Core Uniform Garments. Please contact your Trust Representative or the Procurement Category Manager for National Ambulance Uniforms at NHS Supply Chain: Hotel Services for further details in relation to the onboarding of your Trust.

Facilities and Office Solutions team

facilitiesandofficesolutionssupport@supplychain.nhs.uk

See our Downloads ▼ section for a copy of the NHS Special Measure Request Form. Use this to request special garment sizes from Cooneen.

Other awarded suppliers will provide trusts with their customer order forms. All supplier contact details can be found in the Supplier Matrices on the Contract Information Page.

Engaging with the NHS

For us to deliver the right products the right way we have continuously ensured that our customer’s voice and the wearer’s feedback is incorporated throughout this entire process. 

The National Ambulance Uniform User Group supported NHS Supply Chain: Hotel Services to create the framework. Their input has been integral to ensure that the final output of the National Ambulance Uniform is fit for purpose. Such as, providing guidance on the uniform to include every element required by the end user.  Also, ensuring that there is scope to continually assess the changing requirements over time and deliver future developments. 

The National Ambulance Uniforms User Group is made up of frontline paramedics and operational staff from across the UK. 

We are really pleased with the progress made leading up to the launch of the new National Ambulance uniform. We have worked closely with our new suppliers, to do everything possible to ensure a seamless transition between contracts and that all our wearers continue to receive their uniforms. We have worked on a number of improvements with the new Core Uniform Garments supplier, including the development and forthcoming trial of the new enhanced trouser, following previous wearer feedback that the existing ambulance trouser could be improved. The National Uniform User Group will continue to review the new launched uniform and ensure that we work closely with NHS Supply Chain: Hotel Services to deliver a fit for purpose and improved uniform for our staff. We will be asking for feedback from wearers as the new uniform rolls out to ensure we are delivering what we aspired to do with a new and improved uniform provision

Mark Ainsworth, National Ambulance Uniforms User Group Chair and Director of Operations at South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Continuous engagement with a wide range of stakeholders including the National Ambulance Uniforms User Group and our suppliers has been paramount to the launch of this national framework. I’d personally like to thank all members of the Ambulance Service and our Customers, that have taken time out of their day jobs to support this project, whether it be through assisting with specifications, approving samples or representation as trusts leads in the workstreams. Together we have delivered this project during the pandemic and will continue to innovate through the finalisation of the new enhanced trouser.

Elisa Lamb, Procurement Category Manager for National Ambulance Uniforms

Benefits – nationally endorsed uniform

This new framework agreement has been nationally endorsed with extensive input from key stakeholders across the sector, including Ambulance Trust Heads of Procurement, the National Ambulance Uniform User Group, infection control leads and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion leads.

The continual input from all stakeholders has enabled us to ensure that the garments delivered to meet all requirements of the wearers. Garment enhancements have now been introduced and approval has been given that the new features offer improved comfort of fit, offer additional practical features and maintain a smart appearance when worn.

The range of garments available are high quality and fit for purpose for a variety of ambulance service roles, and reflects the communities served by the ambulance services.

Benefits – equality and diversity

To ensure that the uniform complements the communities that the NHS Ambulance service represents, a suitable range of supporting cultural garments will now be available through this framework.

We collaborated with leading equality and diversity professionals, to identify the appropriate range to be included within this offering. They helped us ensure representation and inclusivity across the entire framework agreement for the ambulance service.

Benefits – new enhanced visionary trouser

The National Ambulance User Group worked closely with us on the development of the new trouser design. This project has an individual workstream. The launch date for the new trouser will be confirmed following national wearer trials. More information on features of the new trouser design will be provided following the launch.

For further details on this workstream please speak to your National Ambulance User Group representative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please explain the governance in place for this framework agreement?

The framework is managed by NHS Supply Chain: Hotel Services with support from the National Ambulance Uniforms User Group.
The national awarded items and pricing are accessible for all trusts to use. Trusts, however, are not permitted to make their own arrangements in relation to this framework for example with the framework suppliers, outside of the national governance that we have in place.

Please explain the use of the National Crest embroidery in Lot 1 Core Uniform Garments?

Most trusts agreed during the pre-tender engagement that they would wear the collective National Crest, NI Crest and Welsh Crest embroidery sewn into their garments, where the embroidery is required. Pricing for the Crests to be sewn into garments is included in the Cooneen awarded national framework pricing. Any trusts not wearing the National Crest, NI Crest and Welsh Crest have been advised in the November 2021 Project Outcome Briefing Paper, that they will pay an extra £0.90p per garment for Lot 1 Core Uniform Garments.

Previously we have run mini-competitions for our own trusts. Under the new National framework agreement, do we still need to do this?

No, trusts can purchase General Workwear Items (Lot Two) from 1 September 2022 at the new national framework agreement pricing. NHS Supply Chain: Hotel Services will work with Ambulance Trusts to identify opportunities for National Ambulance service mini-competitions.

How do I order Core Uniform Garments (Lot One)?

Trusts must order using Cooneen’s Online Ordering Portal. Trust representatives have been involved in the set up of this portal during the contract launch period. As part of this process, each trust representative provided the specific wearer and entitlement information for their trust, which is built into the portal to make the ordering process more accessible and streamlined for all users.

How do I order General Workwear Items (Lot Two)?

To order products from General Workwear Items (Lot Two), trusts will need to raise purchase orders with the relevant supplier, stating the framework agreement reference number: 2021/S 000-031698.
Please note when purchasing Lot Two items from the supplier, Cooneen, trusts are asked to order from the Online Ordering Portal, which has been developed for Core Uniform Garments (Lot One).
See our Useful Links section for supplier contact details please view the Supplier Matrices on the Contract Information Page.

Can I order epaulettes through General Workwear Items (Lot Two) from the contract launch on 1 September 2022?

NHS Supply Chain: Hotel Services plans to mobilise a strategic national project to explore mini competitions for epaulettes. This will start after the contract launch. As such epaulettes will not be available via the framework agreement from the contract launch, however, we will provide a further update on the outcome of the mini competition to the National Ambulance Uniforms User Group.

Is there an option to purchase shorts?

The option for shorts will be explored following the contract launch. A National Ambulance Service specification will need to be finalised initially as a collective group. This may also involve trusts carrying out their own risk assessments.

Is there an option to range extend?

Any request to add new items must be sent to the Procurement Category Manager for National Ambulance Uniforms. A scope and approval process is then followed by the National Ambulance Uniforms User Group Chair and Trust representatives.

Do you have a custom order form for trusts to complete when ordering made-to-measure and maternity wear items?

Trusts are able to order maternity wear via Lot two General Workwear Items from suppliers that are awarded the specific lot two product line required. For all Lot one Core Uniform Garments requiring maternity wear and also any Lot two product lines awarded to Cooneen, trusts are asked to complete the Cooneen Made to Measure Form.

Community First Responder Uniform

It was collectively agreed during the pre-tender engagement with the National Ambulance Uniforms User Group that the CFR uniform was out of scope due to the number of variations across the country. Most CFR uniforms are also purchased through charities linked to the CFR groups. Ambulance trusts could purchase the EOC uniform or front line uniform for their CFRs if they wished, however, some may already have their own arrangements already in place with other manufacturers.

How has sustainability been incorporated into this project?

Consideration was given during the pre-tender engagement with the National Ambulance Uniforms User Group (NAU). During the procurement process suppliers were asked to complete the Labour Standards, Modern Slavery and Carbon, Waste and Water Assessments. The fabric composition of the core uniform varies and depends on the garment, for example, some are a mix of cotton and polyester. The ambulance crest embroideries are sewn on the applicable garments and heat transfers are used on items such as Hi-Viz Jacket. The framework suppliers have their own internal sustainability strategies, such as responsible sourcing, repurposing redundant stock, use of recycled materials, fabric consumption reduction, and reduction in cutting time and energy consumption. NHS Supply Chain: Hotel Services and the Core uniform supplier are members of SEDEX which supports the development of improved labour standards and wellbeing. As part of our supplier relationship management process, we will agree and monitor carbon reduction strategies and drive innovation to introduce the use of an increasing number of sustainable materials. There are several sustainability areas we are focused on delivering during the lifetime of the framework agreement, with the suppliers and the NAU User Group, including the use of recycled PET and BCI cotton in garments and visible carbon footprint management reporting. Please contact Mark Ainsworth NAU User Group Chair should you be interested in joining the NAU User Group as a Trusts Sustainability representative.

Can universities purchase from this new national framework agreement?

We have a standardised approach – the university wishing to purchase liaises with the Ambulance Trust operating in the same specific geographical location, to ask them to make the purchase on their behalf.

Downloads ▼

  • National Ambulance Uniforms and General Workwear - Garment Brochure

    Download a copy of the Garment Brochure to view individual Items available on this framework.
  • Special Measure Request Form - Lot One

    Use this from to request made to measure garments from Cooneen.