Tool · colors by role, not band
NHS uniform colour lookup
Pick a role to see its base color and trim on a tunic, or tap a color to see which roles wear it. Color names are exactly as published by NHS Supply Chain (England) and DL(2018)4 (Scotland). Checked October 23, 2026.
- Base
- Trim
Who wears this color?
Swatches are our approximate screen colors, not published fabric values. The NHS Supply Chain sheet itself warns that on-screen colors may differ from the real fabric. Adoption of the national uniform is trust-led, so your trust may use its own colors or a local variant. Check your trust's policy.
England: base and trim by role
Source: NHS National Uniform Colourways, England (NHS Supply Chain A3 sheet, via British and Irish Orthoptic Society). Explained in NHS uniform colours: the national list, role by role.
Nursing, midwifery and shared roles
| Tunic | Role | Base | Trim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse | Hospital blue | Navy | |
| Nursing associate | Sky blue | Sky blue | |
| Nursing practitioner | Royal blue | Navy | |
| Midwife | Postman blue | Navy | |
| Advanced practitioner | Dark red | Navy | |
| Matron | Purple | Navy | |
| Team leader | Navy | Dark red | |
| Head of department | Black | Red | |
| HCA or support worker | Lilac | Navy | |
| Students | Cloud blue | Navy |
Pharmacy and healthcare science
| Tunic | Role | Base | Trim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist | Bottle green | Navy | |
| Pharmacy technician | Sherwood green | Navy | |
| Healthcare science practitioner | Eau-de-nil | Navy | |
| Healthcare science scientist | Peacock | Navy |
Allied health professions
| Tunic | Role | Base | Trim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physiotherapist | White | Navy | |
| Occupational therapist | White | Bottle green | |
| Prosthetist/orthotist | White | Hospital blue | |
| Dietitian | Ruby | Hospital blue | |
| Speech and language therapist | Ruby | Postman blue | |
| Orthoptics | Ruby | Black | |
| Operating department practitioner | Ruby | Sky blue | |
| Osteopath | Ruby | Cloud blue | |
| Music, art and drama therapist | Ruby | Sherwood green | |
| Podiatry | Ruby | Royal blue | |
| Diagnostic radiographer | Ruby | Eau-de-nil | |
| Therapeutic radiographer | Ruby | White |
Scotland: one tunic color per role
One tunic color per role; navy trousers with most tunics. No contrast trim. Source: DL(2018)4: NHSScotland national uniform and dress code (Scottish Government).
| Tunic | Role | Tunic |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical nursing managers band 8A+ and nurse directors | Smoked berry burgundy | |
| Senior charge nurses/midwives, community team leaders | Navy blue | |
| Registered nurses and dental nurses | Cornflower blue | |
| Registered allied health professionals | Mediterranean blue | |
| Healthcare scientists, pharmacy technicians, dental care professionals | Ocean blue | |
| Unregistered staff and healthcare support workers | Pale sky blue | |
| Catering, domestic, porters, admin and clerical | Mid-green | |
| Catering and domestic supervisors | Dark green | |
| Nursing, midwifery and AHP students | Silver-grey |
Trusts that do it differently
Local versions are allowed. These are examples we have checked, not a full list.
| Trust | Role | Local colors | National sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS FT | Matron | Red with black trim | Purple with navy trim |
| Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS FT | Team leader | Navy with navy trim | Navy with dark red trim |
| Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS FT (3 Jun 2026) | Nursing, bands 6 and 7 | Navy | Colors by role, not band |
Colors are set by role on the national sheet, which does not mention Agenda for Change bands. Band rules, like the navy for band 6 and 7 nurses above, are local.