Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect on the self-esteem of female hospital staff of having to wear a uniform.

The Department has not assessed the effect on the self-esteem of female hospital staff having to wear uniform.

There is advice available to hospitals on the NHS Employers website via the following links:

http://www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/plan/building-a-diverse-workforce/need-to-know/dress-codes-and-discrimination

http://www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/plan/building-a-diverse-workforce/need-to-know/wearing-face-veils-in-the-workplace