Fiona Stanley Hospital uniform sparks safety, confidentiality concerns

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Fiona Stanley Hospital

A compulsory uniform for staff at Perth’s Fiona Stanley Hospital has created a range of problems, according to the Health Services Union (HSU).

Secretary Dan Hill said some union members had reported comfort and safety issues with the uniform.

Mr Hill said the cut of the pants was particularly tight and was causing problems for some women.

“We have had cases where members have obtained medical certificates exempting them from wearing that particular uniform because of the health condition it creates,” he said.

Mr Hill said the limited number of uniforms being supplied to non-nursing staff was also causing problems.

“They’re only supplied with three sets of uniforms whereas their colleagues working in nursing … either receive four or six sets of their uniforms and in our view, three is not sufficient,” he said.

Mr Hill said the concerns were raised with hospital management in March and the union was still trying to get a resolution.

“The hospital is looking at the changes to the uniform, but that’s taking time and in the meantime there are a lot disgruntled allied health and health science employees out there.”

The HSU said Fiona Stanley is the only hospital it was aware of which required clinical psychologists and clinical neuro-psychologists to wear uniforms.

Mr Hill said forcing psychologists to wear uniforms presented its own set of problems.

“They believe and have the support of their professional association, the Australian Psychological Society, that [the] wearing of a uniform can have and does have negative impacts on their capacity to interact with their patients, the therapeutic engagement is affected,” he said.

Mr Hill added the uniforms also posed a risk to confidentiality, as some patients would not want to be seen consulting with a psychologist.

“We’re pursuing that vigorously with the hospital at the moment,” he said.

Mr Hill said while some exemptions had been granted to those working in mental health wards, the issue was yet to be resolved and had now escalated to a dispute.

Mr Hill said social workers at Fiona Stanley Hospital faced similar problems with the mandatory uniform policy.

“There are members of the public who have difficulty identifying with authority and uniforms represent an authority figure to them and certainly in all hospitals’ social workers, those working in front line mental health services, don’t wear uniforms for that very reason,” he said.

The Health Department released a statement which said a working group involving staff from a number of areas had been formed to look at the issues and make recommendations.

It said replacement or made-to-measure uniforms had been offered in some circumstances.

It added that the hospital had previously sought advice from the Australian Psychology Association and was continuing to work with the unions and staff on the issue.