NHS staff across the north and north-east will soon be wearing new uniforms that are specially designed to help stop the spread of hospital superbugs.

They will swap their current outfits with a single short-sleeved tunic-style ensemble which comes in five shades of blue and two shades of green.

The uniforms, which do not have breast pockets to carry pens, scissors and other equipment, are made from material that is easy to keep clean to help ward off bugs such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C.diff).

New dress rules will also prohibit medical staff from leaving work in their uniforms, except where it is part of duties to work in the community or in emergencies, again to prevent cross-contamination.

Staff at Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow became the first to receive the uniforms yesterday.

Clinical staff will wear one of five shades of blue with navy trousers, while staff such as caterers, cleaners and hospital porters will wear green tunics with navy trousers.

NHS staff in Grampian, Tayside, Highland, Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles will be given new uniforms once their old ones have worn out between now and 2011.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “Not only will the new NHS staff uniform help to convey the professionalism of healthcare workers, it will also make it easier for patients to identify staff.”

Liberal Democrat public health spokesman Jamie Stone said: “Unless the NHS takes on responsibility for cleaning uniforms, a new style of uniform won’t stop deadly hospital infections spreading.”

C.diff was directly responsible for two deaths at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and a contributing factor in three others between October 19 and November 6.

Last month, Ms Sturgeon threatened to sack those in charge of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary if hygiene standards were not improved.

She vowed to act in response to a damning report by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “The uniform helps infection control in one simple but very important way, allowing better hand hygiene.

“All the new uniforms have short sleeves, which ensures every single person wearing the uniform can easily wash their hands, wrists and forearms, of which minimises the risk of spreading infection.”

NHS Tayside director of nursing Maggie Simpson said: “The new uniforms will be phased in over a three-year period. We will be using all our existing stock for replacements until these uniforms run out.”

Judith Catherwood, associate allied health professional director for NHS Highland, said: “The new uniforms are lighter and more flexible and the short-sleeve design will enable staff to wash hands easily and help minimise the risk of infection and cross-contamination, allowing us to continue to tackle healthcare-associated infection.”