NURSES cannot be stopped from wearing their uniforms outside work, even though it increases the risk of infection to patients.

That was the claim by the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust yesterday, when it again came under pressure from a health group to stop the problem.

The Worcester & District Community Health Council once more demanded action be taken to ensure that uniforms are washed at work.

In a meeting last night, group members passed a resolution stating: "The Trust should insist all clinical staff do not take uniforms home and arrange for washing to be done by hospital facilities."

But the Trust's chief executive Graham Smith said, in a letter to the health watchdog, it was not that easy.

"The Trust's staff uniform policy states that a clean uniform should be worn on every shift and this should be laundered through the Trust's laundry service.

"Where staff travel home wearing a uniform they are asked, at the very least, to keep it fully covered. But, as I am sure you appreciate, this is difficult for us to police."

The Community Health Council has been battling for more than three years for stricter regulations on the cleanliness of uniforms.

"Wearing uniforms to and from work increases the risk of infection, and when these uniforms are not cleaned at the highest temperature, which some of them aren't, the risk increases" said member Dawn Patterson.

Another member, Doctor David Tibbutt, added: "The Trust concentrates on the smallest of things, but when it comes to a major issue like this it seems to ignore it."