What do the different colour NHS uniforms mean in England?

In the past, individual NHS Trusts determined their own uniform policies, including colours to distinguish different healthcare staff. However, concerns arose that this inconsistency and lack of standardisation could lead to patient confusion - especially for those who have frequented different Trusts - alongside increased uniform costs across the NHS. 

To address these issues, a standardised national NHS uniform was introduced. Designed to be simple, cost-effective, sustainable, inclusive, and comfortable, the new NHS uniform policy provides clarity and reassurance for patients who previously struggled with regional uniform and colour variations.

Not necessarily. It’s important to note that not every Trust will see this change. The new NHS uniform policy isn’t mandatory, and as such, it is up to each individual NHS Trust to decide whether or not to implement the new national uniform and colour-coding. 

Whilst blue were typically associated with nurses uniforms, there will be a variety of different clinical professions sporting the different shades to denote their different roles within the NHS. Here’s how to distinguish blue uniforms under the new NHS uniform policy: 

• Students - Cloud blue uniform with a navy trim.
• Nursing Associates - Sky blue uniform with a navy trim.
• Nurses - Hospital blue uniform with a navy trim.
• Midwives - Postman blue uniform with a navy trim.
• Team Leaders - Navy uniform with a dark red trim.
• Nursing Practitioners - Royal blue uniform with a navy trim.

Like blue, green has been a popular colour used across NHS uniforms, and it will continue to be under the new NHS uniform policy - specifically for clinical professions, mostly within healthcare science. Professionals you can expect to see in green are: 

• Healthcare Science Practitioners - Eau-de-nil uniform with a navy trim.
• Healthcare Science Scientists - Peacock uniform with a navy trim.
• Pharmacy Technicians - Sherwood green uniform with a navy trim.
• Pharmacists - Bottle green uniform with a navy trim.

Purple used to be a difficult colour to determine profession throughout different NHS Trusts, but now, under the new NHS uniform policy, it will now be delegated to two different clinical roles with just two shades - purple and lilac: 

• Matrons - Purple uniform with a navy trim.
• Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) & Support Workers - Lilac uniform with a navy trim.

Previously, red wasn’t a popular colour across NHS Trusts. However, with the new NHS uniform policy, you can expect to see a wide range of allied health professionals in ruby uniforms with different trims, along with a dark red for advanced practitioners. Here’s how to distinguish the different roles, colours and trims for staff wearing red uniforms:

• Advanced Practitioners - Dark red uniform with a navy trim.
• Dietitians - Ruby uniform with a hospital blue trim.
• Speech and Language Therapists - Ruby uniform with a postman blue trim.
• Orthoptists - Ruby uniform with a black trim.
• Osteopaths - Ruby uniform with a dark blue trim.
• Operating Department Practitioners - Ruby uniform with a sky blue trim.
• Music, Art, and Drama Therapists - Ruby uniform with a sherwood green trim.
• Podiatrists - Ruby uniform with a royal blue trim.
• Diagnostic Radiographers - Ruby uniform with an eau-de-nil trim.
• Therapeutic Radiographers - Ruby uniform with a hospital blue trim.

Whilst we typically associate white with doctors, as in the stereotypical white doctors coat, this has not been the case since 2008. However, white has been used across different Trusts, without much standardisation since. With new NHS uniform policy, white uniforms will be designated to three different allied health professionals, with different trims to denote their role: 

• Physiotherapists - White uniform with a navy trim.
• Occupational Therapists - White uniform with a bottle green trim.
• Prosthetist/Orthotists - White uniform with a hospital blue trim.

Under the new NHS uniform policy, there will only be one clinical profession who will wear black uniforms: Heads of Departments. Their uniform will be black, with a red trim. However, it’s important to note that these uniforms will cover all different departments, so it may be difficult to determine which department the staff member is head of.