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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| End for traditional doctor's coat | End for traditional doctor's coat |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| 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 Death of the white coat | I'm determined that patient safety, including cleanliness, should be the first priority of every NHS organisation Alan JohnsonHealth Secretary Death of the white coat |
| It also advises healthcare staff in England against wearing a tie during clinical work. | It also advises healthcare staff in England 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 | 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 (HPA). | Hospital managers will also have a legal duty to notify cases of infection to the Health Protection Agency (HPA). |
| Mr Johnson said: "I'm determined that patient safety, including cleanliness, should be the first priority of every NHS organisation. | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | 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. | More single rooms will be used, and patients with the same infection will more often be nursed together. |
| Integrated approach | Integrated approach |
| Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head science and ethics at the British Medical Asssociation, said a stricter dress code was only one aspect of preventing and controlling infection. | Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head science and ethics at the British Medical Asssociation, said a stricter dress code was only one aspect of preventing and controlling infection. |
| "A co-ordinated approach addressing all the relevant factors, for example dress code, bed occupancy, hygiene in hospital and isolation policies, is most likely to be successful. | "A co-ordinated approach addressing all the relevant factors, for example dress code, bed occupancy, hygiene in hospital and isolation policies, is most likely to be successful. |
| "In addition, any new guidelines on dress code must be practical, realistic, and sensitive to different religious groups." | "In addition, any new guidelines on dress code must be practical, realistic, and sensitive to different religious groups." |
| Dr Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "This guidance offers a positive step forward in introducing dress code standards across all health professions to help reduce healthcare-associated infections." | Dr Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "This guidance offers a positive step forward in introducing dress code standards across all health professions to help reduce healthcare-associated infections." |
| Mike Penning, the Shadow Health Minister, said: "The government has failed miserably to rid our hospitals of superbugs." | Mike Penning, the Shadow Health Minister, said: "The government has failed miserably to rid our hospitals of superbugs." |
| He said nurses were fed up with spending time on administrative activities rather than on treating patients and ensuring hospitals were clean. | He said nurses were fed up with spending time on administrative activities rather than on treating patients and ensuring hospitals were clean. |
| A HPA review published in July showed hospital MRSA cases had fallen by 10% in the first three months of 2007 compared with a year ago. | A HPA review published in July showed hospital MRSA cases had fallen by 10% in the first three months of 2007 compared with a year ago. |
| But rates for C. difficile, which mainly strikes the elderly, rose by 2%. | But rates for C. difficile, which mainly strikes the elderly, rose by 2%. |
| Scotland is considering similar measures, and in Wales the health minister is examining Mr Johnson's comments. | |
| Should the traditional white coat disappear? What do you think of the new dress code? Are you a health service worker? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Should the traditional white coat disappear? What do you think of the new dress code? Are you a health service worker? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |