NHS uniforms are too thick, sweaty and uncomfortable for women going through menopause, campaigners argue

Uniforms in the NHS are too thick, sweaty and uncomfortable for menopausal women, campaigners say.

They are calling for an ‘urgent review’ of women’s uniforms, warning they are not designed with menopausal workers in mind.

Delegates to the Unison union’s annual National Women’s Conference, which kicks off in Brighton today, will be asked to support a motion calling for the introduction of uniforms that do not reveal sweat marks, as well as lighter cotton uniforms for staff. struggling with menopausal symptoms, especially in hot weather.

Women make up 77 percent of NHS workers, while around a third of all NHS staff are over 50.

An estimated 260,000 NHS workers are women aged between 45 and 54. Symptoms of menopause typically occur between the mid-40s and early 50s and can include hot flashes, sweating, muscle aches and anxiety.

Proposing the motion, Unison members said: ‘There is a clear lack of adequate facilities and a lack of awareness about menopause within the NHS. Uniforms are just one example of this.

‘They are made of thick, heavy cotton that is uncomfortable, rough and unpleasant under the best of conditions. Now that fans and air circulation units have been removed from the wards, the extreme heat, combined with hot flashes and an extra layer of PPE, is unbearable.”

Although there are plans to implement a new national NHS uniform across England, the uniforms are currently managed by individual NHS trusts, each with their own styles and colours.

Official guidance for NHS managers on supporting staff through the menopause, published in 2022, asks health bosses to consider whether uniforms are made from ‘suitable, breathable fabrics’ and whether there are ‘additional uniforms/garments available if required’.

But ahead of the opening of the conference, Josie Irwin, head of equalities at Unison, said some trusts were ‘still in the dark ages’.

She said: ‘The vast majority of staff working in the NHS are women and there are many more women over the age of 50 working now than there were 20 years ago.

‘While there are some examples of NHS trusts with good menopause policies, some are unfortunately still stuck in the dark ages. We know that eight in ten women have symptoms of menopause and that 45 percent find it difficult to cope.

‘Menopause and uniforms are an issue and it is important that attention is drawn to the role employers can play in helping people with symptoms to have a lighter uniform if they wish.’

She said the right to request a different uniform should be seen as a ‘reasonable flexibility’ that NHS employers can offer to ‘encourage women to continue doing their work and not have to get sick’.

‘A simple change, such as no longer having to wear heavy cotton or abrasive nylon at work, would allow (more women) to work comfortably, improve morale and ensure there is a fully staffed NHS,’ she added.

When Amanda Pritchard, head of NHS England, launched menopause in the workplace 2022, she called for menopausal women to be given cooler uniforms and fans at work.

She said at the time: ‘Women need to feel they can talk openly about menopause, so we need to break the taboos, increase support and help more women thrive at every stage of their working lives, and starting the conversation is the first step . .’

NHS Supply Chain, which is overseeing the upcoming rollout of new standardized uniforms across the NHS, said the updated uniforms will ‘provide comfort to all wearers, including those who are peri-menopausal or menopausal’.

A spokesperson said: ‘Compared to a traditional tunic, our chosen fabric is significantly lighter, offering a cooler wearing experience.

‘In addition, this fabric contains at least 10 percent mechanical stretch, which further increases comfort for the wearer.

‘Women with perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms took part in the wearing trials and their feedback was taken into account in the evaluation and design of the uniforms.’