THE NORTH WEST AMBULANCE SERVICE IN ENGLAND has issued a new dress code for its ambulance employees that bans the wearing of “novelty” socks.  It prevents all uniformed staff from wearing socks decorated with cartoon characters, jokes and garish patterns because bosses say they are unprofessional.

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The new code, a condition of employment, also bans wrist watches, visible body piercing, excessive make-up and certain tattoos.also bans wrist watches, visible body piercing, excessive make-up and certain tattoos.  A union spokesman, Jonathan Fox, said: “I am a firm believer in having a dress code but this is stretching the rules too far.  North West Ambulance Service should be addressing more important issues like why paramedic training has been stalled for months.”

Jonathan, who is a serving paramedic with 30 years service, continued: “We have been fighting to have knee pads in our work trousers, which has been a sad omission…  To concentrate on socks seems fairly innocuous – it’s not like there’s been an epidemic of novelty sock wearing! Perhaps this is just something to divert our attention from the bigger issues.”

The Maghull Star adds:  

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. 

Director of organisational development Jon Lenney said: “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.

The NWAS appears to have stepped in it with this overbearing desire require everyone to toe the line.  They come across as a bunch of heels who have made themselves into a bunch of laughing-socks.

Read the complete article HERE.