In late 2019, the Northern Ireland Ambulance service (NIAS) posed a question to the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) around the provision of maternity and cultural wear for those staff engaged within the UK ambulance services.
Working closely with Mark Ainsworth, Director of Operations for South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) and chair of the AACE National Uniform Group, and a working group, led by Kirsten Willis- Drewett BEM (SCAS) and Sharifa Milford-Al Hashemy (previously SWAST), a complex piece of work was undertaken, to provide AACE with a clear reflection of the needs of those staff.
A staff survey was shared amongst equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) leads, with staff networks both locally and nationally, and with members of NHS ambulance staff and promoted both by AACE and the College of Paramedics (COP).
Based on the high response rate (a total of 2470 were collected from staff across the UK) it was clear that there was a desire for change.
The data was analysed in depth and shared at the National Ambulance Uniform meeting, with the AACE, the National Ambulance Diversity and Inclusion Forum (NADIF) and EDI leads across the NHS ambulance trusts.
Following extensive consultation across the UK ambulance sector (including with the National Ambulance Uniform User Group which is comprised of frontline paramedics and operational staff) a new uniform tendering process was undertaken which took into account important feedback from all key stakeholders. A new framework agreement (developed by the Hotel Services department of the NHS Supply Chain) was established, the result of which is a new range of garments which are fit for purpose for a variety of ambulance staff roles, are high quality, and reflect the communities that the ambulance sector represents.
The new national framework is split into two lots; Lot 1 covers core uniform garments, items such as high visibility jackets, shirts, and trousers, which will be supplied by Cooneen at Work. Lot 2 is for general workwear for items such as footwear, belts, and kippah. There are multiple suppliers awarded to Lot 2.
36% of survey respondents indicated they would prefer more choice to reflect different body shapes and fits, with many respondents identifying as female finding the fit inappropriate for their body shape. It was clearly indicated that when choosing large trousers to fit around the hips, this would often make them too large around the waist with a tendency to expose skin when bending. The same applied to shirt styles and shapes, these were thought to be too long, lacking a proper cut and shape with concern expressed, again, that a “one size fits all approach” was not appropriate.
The first change that staff will see when making their choice of the new enhanced visionary trouser (once launched in 2023 following wearer trials) is reference to type 1 and type 2 uniform selections. Type 1 will be referenced as “traditionally described as masculine, with narrower hips” and type 2 “traditionally described as feminine with wider bust and hip measurements”. This will allow staff to choose the most appropriate fit for their own body. This also takes into account views expressed by colleagues with a trans history, who felt that being “forced” to select a gendered uniform selection was not appropriate, and the cause of some anxiety.
Headdresses were also found to be variable in the provision, with some trusts reporting no formal provision for turbans, hijabs and kippahs for colleagues observing religious practice, whilst others reimbursed staff for supplying their own; there was no consistency in its application. Feedback from staff surveyed who wore a headdress amounted to 6.3% of the survey population; what was clear was the desire for a consistent approach, headdresses which matched uniform colours, were fit for purpose, made of the correct type, style and weight of material and reflective of the needs of these diverse staff groups.
The new national framework agreement allows for alternative items of clothing and shoes, via Lot 2 General Workwear items and includes items such as vegan friendly shoes, canvas belts as an alternative to leather, and other non-stock items. These can be procured by each ambulance trust based on need, enabling better consistency and a sense of inclusion which had previously been unmet.
Staff members who were considered peri-menopausal, menopausal, or post-menopausal fed back that the weight of the current uniform is not appropriate, and that lighter weight material should be considered. The decision was taken to review the weight of material and ensure adequate ventilation at the armpits on future garments where possible, particularly with the polo shirt provision.
The next stage of the project includes a period of transition from the existing uniform to the introduction of the new core uniform, which is due to be available from autumn/winter 2022. The development of the new enhanced visionary trouser is underway and wearer trials involving representatives from ambulance trusts across the UK are to follow.
Mark Ainsworth, National Ambulance Uniforms User Group Chair and Director of Operations at South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, says:
As Chair of the National Ambulance Uniform User Group, I am extremely proud of the work that the user group has completed, along with our NHS Supply Chain Hotel Services team, to deliver a new contract which will supply a fit for purpose uniform for its duration. Ambulance staff are extremely proud when they don their uniform each day and we want to ensure that they feel comfortable in a uniform that is both smart and practical to use.
We have collaborated closely with our new suppliers to do everything possible to ensure a seamless transition between contracts and that all our wearers continue to receive their uniforms. We have also worked on a number of improvements with the new core uniform garments supplier, including the development and forthcoming trial of the new enhanced trouser, following earlier wearer feedback that the existing ambulance trouser could be improved.
The National Uniform User Group will continue to review the new launched uniform and ensure that we work closely with NHS Supply Chain Hotel Services to deliver a fit for purpose and improved uniform for our staff. We will be asking for feedback from wearers as the new uniform rolls out to ensure we are delivering what we aspired to do with a new and improved uniform provision.
From 1 September 2022 Lot 2 General Workwear items are available through your trust’s standard purchase ordering process.
Contact your National Ambulance Uniform User Group representative for further details (as below) or Elisa Lamb, NHS Supply Chain: Hotel Services Procurement Category Manager (project lead) at elisa.lamb@supplychain.nhs.uk.
National Ambulance Uniform User Group Contacts
| SECAMB | James Nutbrown |
| Yorkshire | Tracy Baker
Lee Murphy |
| Wales | Jonathan Wilson |
| East of England | Stephen Dubery
Jason Ayres |
| East Midlands | Chris Johnson
Mark Hill |
| South Western | Karen Holdsworth
Matthew Ferre Sharon Murphy |
| West Midlands | Martin Minard |
| Northern Ireland | Irina McKelvey |
| North West | Gene Quinn
Daren Hopkinson Ann Sumner |
| South Central
|
Mark Ainsworth
Chris Jenkins Miles Maguaran Matthew Polak |
| London
|
Michael Ward
Silvia Sheridan |
| North East
|
Claire Jobling
Shaun Mulligan Shaun.Mulligan@neas.nhs.uk |
