NURSES at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, are being issued with new uniforms.

The uniforms range from light blue for nursing assistants, through royal blue for qualified nurses, to dark blue for sisters, charge nurses, ward managers and midwives.

The hospital's director of nursing, Yvonne Blucher, said: "Nurses and midwives were consulted at all levels and the final design both dresses and trousers with matching tops are smart, practical and above all professional.

"The colour range allows for easy identification with a range of blues the darker blue signifying seniority. We also have a purple uniform for our six modern matrons and Heads of Clinical Services.

"Posters have now been put up around the hospital to ensure that patients and visitors are fully aware of who is who."

The uniforms of professions allied to medicine remain the same physiotherapists wear white tops with blue piping and dark blue trousers; occupational therapists have white tops with green piping and green trousers; and radiographers white tops with red piping and dark red trousers.