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| End for traditional doctor's coat | End for traditional doctor's coat |
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| The traditional doctor's white coat is to be changed as part of government plans to tackle hospital infections. | The traditional doctor's white coat is to be changed as part of government plans to tackle hospital infections. |
| The new style clothing will have short sleeves under guidance to come into effect at the start of next year. | The new style clothing will have short sleeves under guidance to come into effect at the start of next year. |
| Doctors would also not be allowed to wear long-sleeve shirts, jewellery, or watches as part of the measures. | Doctors would also not be allowed to wear long-sleeve shirts, jewellery, or watches as part of the measures. |
| The Department of Health says cuffs are likely to be "very contaminated", and that other forms of protection such as plastic aprons would be introduced. | The Department of Health says cuffs are likely to be "very contaminated", and that other forms of protection such as plastic aprons would be introduced. |
| I'm determined that patient safety, including cleanliness, should be the first priority of every NHS organisation Alan JohnsonHealth Secretary | |
| It also advises healthcare staff against wearing a tie during clinical work. | It also advises healthcare staff against wearing a tie during clinical work. |
| The new dress code is part of a raft of measures unveiled by Health Secretary Alan Johnson to tackle the spread of hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile. | The new dress code is part of a raft of measures unveiled by Health Secretary Alan Johnson to tackle the spread of hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile. |
| Bigger role for nurses | |
| Matrons will now directly report their concerns about cleanliness and hygiene to hospital boards four times a year. There had been concern that the views of frontline staff were not reaching higher management. | Matrons will now directly report their concerns about cleanliness and hygiene to hospital boards four times a year. There had been concern that the views of frontline staff were not reaching higher management. |
| Hospital managers will also have a legal duty to notify cases of infection to the Health Protection Agency. | Hospital managers will also have a legal duty to notify cases of infection to the Health Protection Agency. |
| Mr Johnson said: "I'm determined that patient safety, including cleanliness, should be the first priority of every NHS organisation. | |
| "Today's package of measures will give more responsibility to matrons and set guidelines on clothing that will help ensure thorough hand washing and prevent the spread of infections. | |
| "This is a clear signal to patients that doctors, nurses and other clinical staff are taking their safety seriously." | |
| The strategy follows a review of the NHS instigated by the Prime Minister shortly after he took over from Tony Blair in June. | |
| Hospitals are also to receive new clinical guidance about isolating patients who do become infected with C.difficile or MRSA. | |
| More single rooms will be used, and patients with the same infection will more often be nursed together. | |
| Dr Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, welcomed the new rules. | |
| He said: "This guidance offers a positive step forward in introducing dress code standards across all health professions to help reduce healthcare-associated infections." |