How do you like your 'professionals' to dress?

Doctors never dressed uniformly, however in hospital settings they should be easily recognisable by patients AS doctors and not look as if they might be e.g. actors or students . Nurses should wear only easily recognisable uniforms and I regret that the Victorian derivative uniforms with white caps and starched aprons was abandoned in favour of utility garb. Patients need reassurance that the people in whose hands they place their lives are seen to be set apart as the specialists that they are.

I had a recent visit to an excellent young (yes they all look teenagers to me too) doctor. She was in the hijab and usual full length dress which took me aback. She was brilliant and I realised that it’s knowledge I am seeking and clothes should be irrelevant.

I don’t think I regret the disappearance of starched nurses’s uniforms, but agree with Alexa that clothes Do matter when medical staff are working face to face with patients. Dress is can be taken to indicate attitude when we have no other guide.
I also find it very irritating not to be able to tell uniforms apart - who is a nurse, who a ‘healthcare assistant’, or a physiotherapist.

The person I saw was a gp and introduced herself to me

I think appearances are very important in building trust especially for professional people, and regret the current trend to 'dress down' all the time. I always make an effort and expect others to do likewise. I'm afraid if my GP wore a T shirt and jeans I would find another one.

I know it’s old fashioned but I really dislike visible tattoos.
I’m always surprised when I meet a professional with tattoos.

The dermatologist I see wears scruffy cords and crumpled polo shirt. Last time I was there I had to suggest that he did up his fly! I do think it looks more professional if they make a bit of effort.

That's right shysal knock 'em into shape. I do think professionals in any walk of life should look the part.
Some of the old fashioned nurses uniform served no useful purpose apart from denoting rank. We had summer and winter uniforms with short sleeves and soft cuffs for the summer and long sleeves with starched cuffs in the winter. I think its better to have scrubs or similar which are easily laundered and comfortable. Name and job title badges will help patients and visitors differentiate.

One of my dds is a medical student. She has to abide by a fairly strict dress code, called clinical wear, when meeting patients. I suppose a qualified doctor can wear what they want, though!

I did once complain about a student medic who looked as though she'd just got out of bed and could do with a good wash. It's all very well stating that the way you're treated is the thing but it can also be a form of disrespect in that it could be interpreted as your patients aren't worth five minutes effort to look half way decent.

I want my GP to be competent and to listen I really couldn't care less how they dress or if they were covered in tattoos and piercings.

I would like to know that a GP or other hands on professional washed their hands between patients (GPs dont seem to do this) and wore some regularly laundered clothing. I am a former Infection Control Nurse so I would say that wouldnt I?

I think how someone dresses is a real clue to their personality if a doctor can’t be arsed to wear some clean and tidy clothing and look fresh and professional I imagine that’s how their mind works, slovenly I don’t expect suit and ties but not trainers and a tracksuit and that goes for teachers too some of them are so scruffy you want to put them in the bath

I’m concerned by the number of healthcare workers who wear their uniforms on public transport, and must pick up loads of germs! Friends who are healthcare workers assure me that the tunics, trousers, and trainers are more practical, but I think there was something about the old style nurses’ uniforms which would instill confidence in patients.
As for other professionals, I like them to look the part!

I have absolute trust in my DR
He is head of the medical practice and his wife was the head nurse at the practise although she has been retired for a few years now.
Unfortunatly he is also due for retire quite soon.

He wears trousers and a shirt in his surgery and also jacket when doing home visits.

What endeared him to me was that he always stood and shook my fathers hand.
When my father was eventually frail and bedbound he still shook his hand and spoke to my father directly.

I can't put it into words very well, but the fact that the Dr was dressed professionally and stood to shake my fathers hand was dignified and showed respect towards elderly man

My father always put a suit and tie on to visit the Dr or bank manager

I like to see a professional dressed in a professional manner. However the only consultant that managed to sort my hubands elbow out, was a 'geography teacher' look alike, cord jacket with elbow patches

My male GP wears shorts in summer albeit smart knee length ones with a 'proper' short sleeved shirt.
The primary school where I worked didn't allow teachers to wear jeans. Trainers were only permitted if you were taking a PE lesson that day, in which case you could wear trackie bottoms to school.
I think smart casual is fine. Suits are unnecessary for male or female professionals these days IMO

I'm with Flexible Friend on this one - as long as I am treated with care and respect and the person knows what they are doing, I couldn't care less what they are wearing or whether they have tattoos etc.

Sodapop I could not agree more with you about not being sad to see the back of starched aprons etc. I was also delighted when the option for trousers came in. Nurses have to get into some very odd positions while working and it was often difficult not to reveal more than planned!
However, I have to say that, unless working in theatres and possibly A&E, I do not think that scrubs are either necessary nor desirable. My uniform always went on clean every day so that is not a reason to wear scrubs. Patients do like to know who is treating them.
As for doctors, the ones at my surgery are usually neatly dressed.

I think how someone dresses is a real clue to their personality if a doctor can’t be arsed to wear some clean and tidy clothing and look fresh and professional I imagine that’s how their mind works, slovenly I don’t expect suit and ties but not trainers

Or you could see it the other way? A doc in stuffy starchy inflexible wear is less likely to want to "get their hands dirty".

Also a female doc is more at risk in a blouse (or other button front tops) than in a teeshirt. Especially in a GP room where she is alone with the public behind a closed door.

Loose comfortable informal clothes are surely the more approriate for doing exams and tests whilst etc and for doing long hours

Hospital doctors cannot wear ties any longer - think how many germs they carry! - and short sleeves or rolled up sleeves also keep fabrics away from patients. It is an enforced casualness. If they are wearing scrubs, it may be because a patient has covered them in something unpleasant! My son has had his shoes ruined before now!

The consultant neurologist I see for my MS wears the tattiest looking jeans and leather flip flops . He looks like he should have a surf board under his arm. He’s lovely and he has my absolute trust .

a 'geography teacher' look alike, cord jacket with elbow patches

That made me laugh cherrytree. It reminded me of one of the DC’s teachers who sported the cord jacket, but underneath it a sage-green, hand-knitted v-necked jumper complete with dinner medals, every single day.
I think it’s the professional’s attitude which counts, as well as their skills and knowledge.
But it’s far harder to convey to the patient that you’re knowledgeable and skilful and think in an organised way, if your clothes and general appearance are casual or sloppy. And it goes without saying that in a clinical environment you should both be, and look, clean. Impressions do matter.

Jeans and a t-shirt can look neat and tidy.
A crumpled business suit can look awful.

One of my GP's also looks about 12 although she has two young children and wears Doc Martins. She is an excellent doctor though.
My two consultants are very good looking young women and wear up to the minute clothes.
I suppose the doctor in the urgent care centre doesn't feel she has to dress up on a Sunday. I don't have a lot of faith in these doctors, however, as they told my husband he had a bad cold when in fact he had Legionnaires disease!

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Tweedle the old style nurses outfits became sexualised which caused problems for many. Scrubs or Tunics are quite neutral in that way. Perverts will still be perverts but it gives them one less way to harass health care staff.

Also with Long days taking over from earlies and lates, scrubs or a tunic can quickly be changed mid shift it needed.

The problem is that tunic colours vary from hospital to hospital. If universal colour codes were adopted it would be easier to tell who is who.

But other than that I do think the more androgenous work-wear style is the right way to go with uniformed healthcare workers.

I like the American style where doctors dont wear civvies and everyone wears scrubs but they are clearly colour coded and badges make it clear who is who. I think (and I have been in an American hospital) it makes the staff look very clinical and clean and also ready to get on with it and work hard.