Occupational Therapist Uniforms

Occupational therapy is a physical job. In a single shift you might be kneeling to assess a bathroom, transferring a patient, demonstrating a kitchen task or carrying equipment up a flight of stairs. Your uniform has to move with you, launder at high temperature and still look professional when you walk into someone's home.

Our occupational therapy range covers scrub tunics, scrub trousers and joggers, classic healthcare tunics and base layers, in unisex, women's and men's fits. Sizes run from XS to 4XL, with short, regular and tall leg options on selected trousers, so a whole OT team can be kitted out consistently.

• Stretch and range of movement. Four-way stretch fabrics and gusseted or tapered trousers cope better with kneeling, reaching and floor-level work than rigid poly-cotton.

• Pockets that earn their place. Therapists carry tape measures, goniometers, pens, phones and assessment forms. Cargo pockets and chest pockets keep kit to hand without a bag.

• Wash performance. Look for 60 degree wash garments where your trust or employer specifies it, and easy-care finishes that come out of the machine ready to wear.

• Breathability. Moisture-wicking base layers and breathable tunics help on long community rounds and in warm therapy spaces such as hydrotherapy suites.

• Approachability. OT often involves working with people in their own homes. A neat tunic or scrub set reads as professional without feeling clinical.

Community occupational therapists spend much of the week out of the building: driving between visits, carrying equipment, and working in kitchens, bathrooms and stairwells. That points to darker colours that hide marks, trousers with a comfortable waistband for time in the car, and a layer you can put on and take off between properties. Many community teams pair a scrub tunic or polo with a softshell or fleece rather than a full uniform dress.

Not every OT post is a uniformed one. In paediatrics and in mental health services, teams often wear smart casual or a softened uniform so that the clinical look does not get in the way of building rapport. Where a uniform is worn, plain colours, minimal branding and no loose cords or lanyard-style detailing are usually preferred. Our scrub joggers and stretch tunics suit floor-based play work and therapeutic group sessions where you need to sit, move and demonstrate.

There is no single national uniform colour for occupational therapists in the NHS. Colour coding is set locally by each trust or health board, and OT staff are commonly identified by a distinct tunic or trim colour, with a different shade again for OT assistants, technicians and students. Always check your local uniform policy before ordering. If you are buying for a team, our NHS accounts service can hold your approved colours and styles so staff order the right garment every time.

Embroidery makes a difference in community work, where patients and families need to know at a glance who is at the door. We can add your trust, service or practice logo, plus names or role titles such as Occupational Therapist or OT Assistant. Personalised orders typically take a little longer to dispatch than standard stock.

Alexandra has supplied healthcare uniforms since 1854 and is a preferred NHS supplier. We hold stock in depth, offer free UK delivery on orders over £85 excluding VAT, and give 30 days to return anything that is not right. If you are ordering for a whole therapy department, our team can help you build a standard kit list and keep it consistent across sites.

It varies by employer and setting. Many NHS and private OTs wear a tunic or scrub top with trousers in a colour set by their trust or practice. In paediatrics, mental health and some community roles, smart casual clothing is more common. Footwear is almost always closed-toe and non-slip.

Yes, increasingly. Scrub tunics and scrub trousers or joggers are popular with OT teams because they stretch, wash at higher temperatures and are easy to replace. Acute and inpatient rehabilitation settings tend to use scrubs more than community teams.

There is no national standard. Each trust sets its own colour coding, so OT uniforms differ from one hospital to the next. Check your local uniform policy, or ask us to set up an account with your approved colours preloaded.

The garments overlap heavily, and many trusts use the same styles with a different colour to tell the two professions apart. The practical difference is where the work happens. Physiotherapy is often gym and ward based, while occupational therapy involves more home assessment, equipment handling and functional task work, which puts a higher premium on pockets, layering and hard-wearing colours. You can also browse our physiotherapy uniforms.

Yes. We can embroider logos, names and role titles. Allow extra time for dispatch on personalised orders.

Follow your employer's uniform and infection control policy first. Many of our healthcare garments are rated for a 60 degree wash, which is the standard most NHS policies ask for, and others are 40 degree. The care label on each product confirms the maximum temperature.

XS to 4XL across most of the range, with women's, men's and unisex fits, and short, regular and tall trouser options on selected styles. See our size guides before ordering for a team.