Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department provides to NHS trusts on the wearing by healthcare staff in hospital settings of (a) perfumes, (b) scented laundry products and (c) other fragranced products; and what assessment has been made of the potential impact of such products on patients with (i) respiratory conditions, (ii) allergies, and (iii) fragrance sensitivities.

NHS organisations set their own policies locally and these generally form part of their unform policy. Although there is no national guidance in place, some organisations do advise in their own guidance that the wearing of perfumed products must be discrete and not overpowering.