Are Scotland’s lower coronavirus deaths partly due to uniforms only being worn in the hospital?

Telegraph

Alerted to this by Contrary after seeing a tweet about it, I’m shocked that this could even be possible, and not just at this time.

In February 2008 (!) the Daily Mail wrote:

‘Nurses could be banned from wearing their uniforms off hospital premises – because the public are afraid they could spread superbugs. At the moment, nurses are allowed to wear their uniforms while travelling to and from work, as long as it is covered by an outer garment. … “If they then have to allow extra time for getting changed into their uniform, it will lead to an even extended working day.’

Readers may remember the Norovirus outbreaks last winter which did not close wards in Scottish hospitals but closed hundreds in England.

You will also know that the coronavirus mortality rate in Scotland is half that of the UK average.

The tweet suggested that NHS Scotland staff would be disciplined if they went outwith the hospital grounds in uniform:

This from NHS Borders seems clear:

‘Uniforms are the property of NHS Borders; the official uniform must be worn at all
times when on duty and should not be worn outside the hospital, unless the member
of staff is on official duty such as escort duties.‘

https://www.nhsborders.scot.nhs.uk/media/154759/Dress_Code_Uniform_Policy.pdf

And in Wales during the abovementioned Norovirus outbreak:

An outbreak of norovirus at Cardiff’s University Hospital has sparked a controversy about NHS uniforms being worn outside work.

Earlier this month, Wales Online’s coverage of the outbreak prompted widespread comment about employees seen in their scrubs at a supermarket or when picking up their children from school.

Readers reacted to the story by questioning whether NHS employees had inadvertently contributed to the spread of nasty bugs.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/nhs-employees-risk-germ-transfer-17333202

13 thoughts on “Are Scotland’s lower coronavirus deaths partly due to uniforms only being worn in the hospital?”

  1. Yes typically and nausaeatingly the BBC this morning (now in WW2 mode) giving us a few ‘feel good’ snippets of ‘goodies ‘ being delivered for front line NHS staff in England. Yes it was a joy to see pics of their ‘lovely smilley faces’ just again to disguise the looming pandemic crisis caused by their ‘paymasters’ knowing if they don’t their future is at risk. Only in BBC Scot did the remnants of the Salmond court case deny them the opportunity to do the same. The BBC just cannot help themselves.

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  2. It possibly speaks of a system in Scotland that has been in place for a while now and which was instigated to counter levels of infection. As you may know, infection rates in Scottish health service have plummeted in last few years.

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  3. I think it was the founder and owner of the Daily Mail, Lord Rothermere, who, at the start of last century, spoke of the need to give the British people their ‘daily dose of fear’.

    This is what the mainstream media have done for a long, long time. They present a baleful side of humanity to erode trust amongst us all. Trusting each other can lead to collective action and collective action can lead to people challenging the ‘ruling class’.

    The Covid-19 epidemic gives them a background on which to set out their misanthropic narrative – panic buying, coughing in peoples’s faces, groups socialising in parks, attacks on NHS staff., etc. These are always expressed in hyperbole – mown down, absolutely horrendous, mega deaths, etc.

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  4. I would have thought that staff would want to leave their uniforms at work to reduce the possibility of carrying the virus home.

    They surely want to protect their families.

    Common sense.

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    1. Brenda, many are women, who are often juggling caring responsibilities and their minutes are precious. Perhaps, too, they have to launder their clothes. There are NHS laundry facilities, of course, but these might have to be increased in the light of present circumstances. They will have priorities, such as bedding, theatre clothing, etc.

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      1. Sorry, forgot to add – many NHS staff also work in the community visiting patients in their homes. So, being on the street, in their uniforms is normal.

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    2. Hi Brenda, the original Twitter thread (not included here) made it clear that many NHS England hospitals do not have changing facilities for staff!! Unbelievable, but apparently so.

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  7. Rejoice, rejoice————-Charlie of that ilk, is disease-free, and has been released from pokey.

    Being Prince of Wales, the hereditary title of the heirs to the ENGLISH throne, he can now leave Auld Scotia behind and go back to Blighty.
    “A thousand years of breeding”, and one A-level. He put horns on his best pal, but at least he isn’t Andy.

    Good-bye Charlie, when will we see yer likes again?
    As the old song had it…………”I talk to the trees, That’s why they put me away”………………………..

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