LANCASHIRE paramedics are to be banned from wearing novelty socks.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) will stop all uniformed staff from wearing socks decorated with cartoon characters, jokes and garish patterns because bosses said they were unprofessional.

It is part of a new dress code policy that bans wrist watches, visible body piercing, excessive make up and certain tattoos.

Staff could face disciplinary action if they fail to follow the code.

Craig Wilde, branch secretary for the NWAS Unison Branch, said he would discuss the proposal with bosses.

He said: “Obviously if you are wearing a uniform where your socks are visible then I can see the point.

“But we wear uniforms with trousers and boots so you wouldn't be able to see our socks.

“There needs to be an application of common sense.”

NWAS said most of the new policy had been created to ensure hygiene and safety standards were met.

Clinical staff have been banned from wearing wrist watches and some jewellery because they can carry germs or injure patients. Some staff will now be provided with fob watches to keep time.

Jon Lenney, director of organisational development, said: “The North West Ambulance Service is a professional healthcare organisation and as such, expects appropriate standards of dress from both its frontline and support staff.

“The new dress code policy, approved by the trust board this month, sets out what is and what is not regarded as appropriate.

"This important policy was initiated in response to the recent CQC inspection of North West Ambulance Service in relation to healthcare acquired infections, and this has been developed in conjunction with our staff side representatives.

‘“The item which refers to which socks crews may wear is a very small element in a substantial document which covers more important issues such as infection control and health and safety.

“The trust does provide staff with full uniform, including plain dark socks, and as the role of frontline staff requires a great deal of physical movement, on occasion, socks can be visible.

"We would expect our staff to wear uniforms provided and do not feel that ‘novelty’ socks with slogans and images are appropriate for presenting a professional image to patients and members of the public.”

As reported in the Lancashire Telegraph in 2006, East Lancashire Hospital Trust also said no to humorous socks in their first ever uniform policy.

Source: Lancashire Telegraph, United Kingdom, January 8, 2010