Nurses in Wales have objected to a decision by health bosses in the principality to ban Crocs at work.

Bosses have taken the controversial decision because they do not offer adequate protection from sharp objects and follow similar bans in hospitals in parts of the US, Canada, Sweden and Austria. All Welsh health boards have been sent the instructions which are said to be due to a number of incidents where sharp objects have pierced the soles of the shoes.

However, the decision has been criticised by nurses with Crocs being the "shoe of choice" for many within the NHS because of their comfort and the fact they are relatively easy to clean. One said: "Crocs can be cleaned if a blood spillage occurred. Do they expect us to wear blood-stained trainers?"

Peter Meredith-Smith, director of the Royal College of Nursing in Wales, said that shoes were part of the uniform and that members had to follow health and safety advice as well as obeying the dress code.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2036925/Crocs-banned-NHS-health-safety-reasons.html