NURSES at Worcester's new hospital could have access to a laundering service to enable them to keep their uniforms clean.

There is a growing concern about the cleanliness of nurses' uniforms, a meeting of the Worcester District Community Health Council heard.

This has stemmed from the lack of changing facilities at a number of Worcestershire hospitals, including Castle Street, Ronkswood and Kidderminster.

Members of Worcester District Community Health Council said they were worried that nurses' uniforms could harbour bacteria as nurses walked to work already changed.

"Our big concern was the washing and cleanliness of nurses uniforms," said Dawn Patterson of the CHC. "There is a mixed view of what is necessary but at Ronkswood Hospital nurses are encouraged to wear them to and from work."

"There's no evidence that patients have been affected by this, though there's a dress code on wearing uniforms and what shoes should be worn," said Cath Plain, director of nursing for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

She said there were a number of different uniforms worn by staff and that the trust was looking to introduce new ones across the board.

"Having nurses in new uniforms is certainly better. We're just deciding what they should be," she said.

"Hopefully, the nurses will look nice as well as being able to be recognised. There will be sufficient uniforms for each nurse so that they can change on each shift.

"There's a shortage of changing rooms on these sites, but on the new site there will be appropriate space," she said.

Mrs Plain said it was unlikely that the wearing of uniforms to and from work was detrimental to patients as doctors wear normal clothes on their rounds.

"There will be an opportunity to get uniforms laundered at the new hospital, but I don't see a reason for nurses uniforms to be laundered if they wash them at home. I've not hard evidence that it makes any difference.

"What is a problem is nurses with only two uniforms working a seven-day shift and wearing uniforms more than once before they are washed," said Mrs Plain.

The lack of a laundry could pose problems in-house as it means linen and uniforms will have to be washed elsewhere, the meeting heard.

"It seems we have a brand new hospital and no one has thought about what would happen with the uniforms," said CHC member Pat Merrick, a former nurse.

"There's no room for a laundry - the next best thing is to get a contract, but there'll have to be enforceable penalties to maintain a high standard."