NXNews-Issue9-FINAL-ForWeb -160916LowRes

POINTS OF VIEW | UNIFORMS
The Quest
for the
Perfect
Uniform
Is your uniform simply practical workwear or
does it say something about your profession?
As Newcross begins a review of company
clothing, we explore the past, present and future
of healthcare uniforms.
Few professions put more demands on clothing
than healthcare. You don't have to be on the
frontline very long before realising that a long shift
can be tough on your uniform. Despite numerous
1840
changes over the decades, with innovations in
fabrics, features and styles, most of us are still
looking for that elusive 'perfect uniform'.
THE FIRST NURSES
The origins of the classical uniform designed
come from the church and the military in the 19th
Century. Formalised healthcare was first delivered
by nuns and civilian women seconded to the army
and so the earliest bespoke uniforms were
adapted or modified accordingly. Many of the
initial design features such as layered tunics,
pinafores and caps persisted for years.
THE STEREOTYPE
The 1950s uniform, seen in period dramas like
Call the Midwife, is arguably one of the most
iconic and enduring. However, while it was stylish
and instantly recognisable, it was far from
practical. Heavy wool overcoats? Not really ideal
for cycling to your next patient.
Rapid change took place in the 1960s due in
part to evolving responsibilities, new tiers of
specialism and the birth of a once exotic but now
commonplace variant; the male nurse. With the
arrival of men came the rather dapper
combination of trousers and a white jacket with a
high neck, which later became widely adopted by
both genders. Durability, easily laundered and
colourfast, synthetic fibres like nylon and
polyester were considered by the ‘experts’ to be a
huge improvement.
In the 1980s, considered by some as the
‘golden age of nursing’, there was a concerted
effort to make uniforms more functional and
informal.
Uniforms identify to patients who you
are and what you are there to do, which
is key especially for patients with
Dementia. It is important that uniforms
are functional, fit for purpose and made
of comfortable breathable material.
Linda McVeigh
Senior Clinical Lead Nurse, Head Office
22 newcrossnews | www.newcrosshealthcare.com