By Darren Farmer, Director of Ambulance Operations, London Ambulance Service
The National Ambulance Uniform User Group (NAUUG) works on your behalf to improve the uniform offer for staff across the sector.
Female fit trousers will be added to the catalogue this year but there is much more to do and we will be rebooting the group, welcoming applications to join from all staff.
I am acutely aware that the national uniform offering is not as inclusive as any of us would want it to be. This is not a new development and the position has to change rapidly.
We have begun the process with the purchase of the enhanced-vision trousers which will allow us to provide uniform trousers better suited for female staff.
There will be two types of trousers available, a male and a female tailored fit. Priority will be provided for the female fit so orders for male fit trousers will be serviced from the existing trousers until we have exhausted that stock.
The differing types of trousers are shown here.
Our supply chain means there is a lag before these will be available across ambulance services so I would ask for your patience as we work through that process and move ourselves to a position where we can get all the uniform that we need more rapidly.
I recognise that the need to provide a truly inclusive uniform offering goes far beyond female fit trousers and equally there is not enough visibility or engagement available with those who are working on your behalf to achieve this.
We need to evolve the National Ambulance Uniform Users Group (NAUUG) to ensure that you all know who is representing your views and have a pathway in that allows you to raise concerns and get feedback as rapidly as possible.
We also need to develop a method of ensuring that the NAUUG is reflective of all those wearing our uniform to ensure we prioritise unmet needs when identified.
The National Directors of Operations Group (NDOG) which oversees NAUUG has agreed that a full reboot is required. This reboot will allow us to ensure a fair and transparent process of recruiting a representative group of uniform wearers from across all ambulance trusts.
This means that all staff have the opportunity join the group and work collectively to improve the uniform offering in the ambulance sector.
>> Individual trusts will be clarifying their recruitment processes in the coming weeks so please listen out for announcements within your organisation. <<
Whilst progress to this point has been slower than any of us would like, I want to pay tribute to the tireless work of the existing NAUUG members who have sought to improve the uniform offering over many years.
I have no doubt that they will continue to support this progress whether formally within the new group or informally within their own trusts as role models.
The focus for the new group will be on rapidly addressing key areas where the offering remains limited:
- A full set of uniform that is better suited for female colleagues.
- Seeking specific garments that will be more comfortable for staff members experiencing the menopause or colleagues in pregnancy.
- Specific garments that are suited to religious beliefs.
Clearly we will continue to focus on improving all elements of the uniform offering to ensure that we balance value for money with a quality, protective catalogue of garments suitable for the work we all undertake.
As I mentioned earlier, the existing uniform processes and supply mean that there will be a delay before we are able to achieve all our ambitions in this regard and clearly the challenging financial position will play a part.
Therefore I would ask for your continued patience and encourage any of you who are interested in helping evolve the national uniform to apply when your trust confirms its process.
