Hospital Uniforms by Department - A Guide

Hospital uniforms vary by department more than most people realise. The colour, fabric and style of what staff wear all depend on their role, their institution’s dress code, and the demands of their work. This guide walks through who wears what across every main hospital department, from emergency to maternity to non-clinical support roles.

What Determines Hospital Uniform Codes

Three things shape NHS hospital uniforms in the UK: the colour code based on the role (for example, sister, staff nurse, HCA, etc.), the department's infection control requirements, and the practical demands of the work. As such, theatre, ICU and clean room units have stricter uniform rules than general wards. For other services, mental health and paediatrics often have softer dress codes, while non-clinical roles wear branded workwear rather than tunics or scrubs. To find out more, head to our blog: NHS colour codes explained: What each colour means.

General Wards

On a typical general ward, you'll see staff nurses in blue tunics, HCAs in pale blue or white-with-trim, sisters in navy, and student nurses in white tunics with a coloured stripe. Doctors mostly dress smart casual. Cleaning and catering staff wear branded workwear in their own colour.

A&E and Emergency Departments

Emergency department staff usually wear scrubs rather than tunics. The work is fast and unpredictable, so durable scrubs with practical pockets are preferred. Many hospitals issue red or burgundy scrubs to A&E nurses to make them visually distinct during major incidents. Resuscitation and trauma teams may also have specific scrub colours for quick identification in emergencies.

Theatre and Surgical Suites

Theatre uniforms are kept entirely separate from the rest of the hospital. Staff change into hospital-issued theatre scrubs at the start of a procedure and out at the end, and the scrubs do not leave the theatre suite. Theatre scrubs are usually green, blue or maroon, plain in design, and laundered by the hospital at high temperatures. Browse our healthcare scrubs collection for standard theatre and ward scrub styles. For more information, read our article: Theatre Scrubs vs Ward Scrubs: The Practical Differences

Maternity and Labour Wards

Midwives typically wear navy or dark blue tunics or scrubs. Student midwives wear lighter shades with a coloured stripe to identify their training year. In labour wards, scrubs are more common due to practical demands. Some maternity wards retain traditional nurse dresses for senior midwifery roles. For an idea of what nurse uniforms are on offer, take a look at our healthcare nursing collection.

ICU and Critical Care

ICU and critical care staff usually wear scrubs in a specific colour, often a darker shade than general wards, to mark the higher-acuity environment. Infection control is strict, scrubs change daily, and laundering standards are higher.

Mental Health Wards

Mental health wards often don't use traditional clinical uniforms. Staff frequently wear smart casual or polo shirts and trousers in calm, neutral colours, deliberately to soften the clinical feel. Some inpatient settings retain a uniform in pastel shades. Branded polos with embroidered ward branding are also popular here.

Paediatrics

Paediatric uniforms use friendlier colours and patterns. Printed tunics, bright scrubs and softer designs are common in children's wards and paediatric outpatients. The aim is to make the environment feel less clinical for children and families.

Outpatients and Clinics

Outpatient nurses usually wear the same uniform as their associated ward. Clinic-only staff often wear tunics or polos rather than scrubs. Reception and admin staff typically wear corporate-style uniforms such as branded blouses or polos.

Diagnostics: Imaging, Pathology and Pharmacy

Radiographers typically wear white tunics with coloured trim or scrubs depending on the setting. Pathology and lab staff wear lab coats over scrubs or smart casual clothing. Pharmacists wear tunics or scrubs depending on whether they are ward-facing or based in dispensaries.

Physios & Occupational Therapy

Physiotherapists, occupational therapists and dietitians usually wear polo shirts and smart trousers in assigned colours. This supports the physical and hands-on nature of their work. Browse our healthcare polo shirts and t-shirts collection for typical AHP uniform styles.

Non-Clinical Roles

Hospital support staff such as porters, catering, cleaning and security teams wear branded uniforms, usually polos or workwear in role-specific colours. Slip-resistant footwear is commonly required.

Order Hospital Uniforms

At Grahame Gardner, we have supplied UK NHS Trusts and private hospitals with department-specific uniforms for over a century, including scrubs, tunics, polos, footwear and accessories built for clinical work. Browse our healthcare uniforms collection or explore our healthcare scrubs collection to find options for every department. If you need further information, please contact us today.