NURSES wear their uniforms outside work because of a lack of changing and laundry facilities at Worcester's new hospital, it has been claimed.

A student nurse, who does not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said more nurses would change out of their work clothes if there were proper changing rooms at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

She agreed with Pat Merrick, vice-chairman of the Worcester District Community Health Council, who voiced her concerns about the possible spread of infection the situation creates at a board meeting earlier this month.

But she said the hospital was to blame rather than the nurses themselves.

"People say we are bringing stomach bugs into the hospital, but why are we not given proper facilities?" she asked.

"There are locker rooms but no changing rooms. There's only one locker between two if you're lucky, so there's nowhere to put your clothes."

Shifts

She said student nurses were only given two pairs of trousers and three tops, which caused problems when they worked shifts of up to 10 days.

"It makes me feel like we're being accused of being dirty because we don't change our clothes.

"I only know of two nurses who have their uniforms laundered at the hospital - nobody's ever offered me a laundry service.

"Everyone would like changing facilities. For disinfection purposes uniforms should be left at work.

"The facilities just don't exist for everyone to be able to get changed."

The CHC has brought the matter up with Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust in the past.

It is also demanding to see figures on infection levels in the hospital, and it has invited a representative of the Trust to a meeting to find a solution to the problem.

Janet-Marie Clark, spokesman for the Trust, said hospital-based nurses were allowed to travel to and from work in their uniforms if they wore a suitable jacket or coat over them.

She said staff were also allowed to wash their own uniforms if it was done at the right temperature.