How do you like your 'professionals' to dress?

I thought that the white coats were more to protect the doctors than the patient from infection?

The problems with the old fashioned white coats is that they were expensive and troublesome to launder, the sleeves couldn't be easily rolled up, and the wearer seldom bothered to button it up.
Incidentally school blazers are unhygienic as sleeves can't easily be pushed up for wiping when on the toilet or for hand washing.

I'm more worried about hospital staff (and there is one very near where I live) who slouch into their place of work in a "uniform" that looks very lived in and slept in, hair straggling all over the place and generally of very questionable hygiene......too many look like tramps who have spent the night dossing down on the last bus!

I called the surgery at 9am this morning and saw the GP at 9.45 .He was well turned out, suit(jacket hanging on the back of chair) white shirt with sleeves rolled up and a tie.He was polite and friendly and, as someone who rarely comments on someones looks,an exceptionally good looking and well groomed silver fox.He greeted me with a handshake and shook it again as I left when he walked me to reception.
What a pleasant experience ,having a kidney infection was much better than I thought .lol

Ah!...of course that could only happen in Scotland where their services, across the board, are second to none.
Here in backwards England we have no time to look like a magazine ad for the medical profession.

I try never to shake hands...you don't know where they've been.

What about social workers?
I could pick them out from any line-up.

For goodness sake* GG54 * ,I merely told you of MY experience here today .Believe it or not.... I dont really care.Its what happened .I dont believe I mentioned England or Scotland just my GP surgery .I'm sure there are many just like it .I'm sure Dr H isn't the only middleaged man who still wears a collar and tie to work!!

What about social workers?
I could pick them out from any line-up.

How's that then?
What does a typical social worker look like?

I don't mind doctors wearing casual clothes but I was amazed by a female doc's aggressive cleavage on show once. We were burgled and shortly afterwards a stranger appeared at the door. He looked like a criminal returning to finish the job but turned out to be a very nice detective. Lesson: don't judge a book etc.

A typical social worker looks like a typical human being. It's another GG wind up of course.

When my MiL had a short spell in a local nursing home she was seen by our GP. I don't think she ever got over it! "I've never seen a doctor dress like that in my life!" She came from central London where, apparently, all doctors wear suits. Our GP looks like a country vet with lumberjack shirts, body warmers and spiky hair. He also happens to be very good at his job!

SOO1 I could not agree more but, it is not always easy. When I started work at my local hospital, there was a laundry for uniform and a changing area with lockers and showers. As time went on, the laundry facility was withdrawn and the changing rooms taken over by the maintenance department for storage.
I think that, as long as a clean uniform is worn daily and covered by a suitable coat while travelling, that is OK. After all, community staff have to travel between patients and their hygiene is just as important. When dealing with patients, disposable plastic aprons, hand washing and gloves should be safe enough,
I do hope, though, that the plastic aprons will soon be replaced by paper ones when there is little danger of spillage soaking through to the uniform underneath.

I agree with you Tweedle and I used to be nurse with special interest in infection control. The exception is when there is a specific virulent infection e.g. smallpox or ebola or if the uniform has been grossly contaminated with body fluids. I do agree that ancillary workers should wear clean and otherwise suitable clothing too.

I tend to distrust workers in suits and ties but that is just my prejudice.

Alexa Yes, I realise there are exceptions and do agree about ancillary staff. Suits always worried me as I am sure they are not changed daily!

I apologise before I type" judge ye not that ye be judged" ooo-er.

Perhaps I should mention DD who is now 44 and a research scientist at the University that she has now attended as student and then staff for 26 years. Her normal attire is fairly scruffy although she might make an effort for a meeting with important foreign colleagues and she looks a good ten years younger than her age. It's only a few years since the librarian has stopped trying to throw her out of the library because "Students aren't allowed in here in the holidays"!