To dress up for doctor’s appointments?

Ridiculous

I think it depends… as a social worker I have seen that particularly with some professionals presentation does make a difference in gaining their trust and confidence. But I think it’s more about class!

Definitely have seen a difference between how I’m spoken to/ treated when eg in work/ dressed up clothes vs ‘whatever I could find’. Funnily enough by receptionists more than doctors. Same with pharmacy staff, a lot more respect when a bit more dressed up but then when I’m not dressed up I look like a messy 44 year old teenager iykwim😅

ps from middle class background in Ireland so have never had felt paranoid/ felt I needed to prove myself etc, it’s just something I notice!

I try and be clean and presentable but otherwise no I don't make any particular effort.

I once was feeling so tired and unwell at a nurse's appointment I didn't realise one pendulous tit was hanging out till I got home. Hanging out in the appointment I mean, not in the waiting room or owt.

Not for gp appointments but always for my oncology appointments. I don’t know but wearing a dress and make up makes me more confident even when I feel crap. And he is always dressed up so I don’t want to look scruffy. It’s only a £14 Primark dress but it looks nice a floaty and easy access if he needs to examine me. I have a couple.

A tiara and a pony. With groom.

OP, my grandmother, while dying (as in, she was dead within a few hours) , dragged herself into her best nightdress and lipstick when her GP visited, because ‘you dress up for doctors’. She also kept her children short of food in childhood in order to be able to afford to buy them one ‘good’ outfit for church, complete with hat.

To this day, my mother cannot appear in public wearing an even slightly dirty item of clothing, including circumstances like slightly muddy trouser hems on the way back from a winter walk, because her ultimate terror is ‘not looking respectable’. And yes, she judges everyone else on the same grounds. Show her a convicted, self-confessed killer in a suit and neat haircut and she will sigh and say what a nice-looking boy ‘from a very good family ’.

If your HCP is genuinely a classist snob, no makeup and clothing is going to convince them you're higher up the social ladder than you really are.

OP I would ask yourself if this is maybe your own self esteem issues at work. Do you place doctors on a pedestal or are you intimidated by them and don't feel 'good enough'? Are you overly conscious of class generally, instead of just treating everyone as they come and expecting the same in return? I just can't imagine this being a consideration for anyone.

Generally I do think it is true. Medical people, are people and have all sorts of unconscious bias ( not all, but some), judgements are made, assessments based on what you say, how you present, how you act etc.

So yes, I do think it can exist. I read something years ago about studies that showed that being well dressed etc influenced the level of care specialists gave you. I have made sure to dress well when seeing the specialists I have needed in the past for serious illnesses.

When I have a cold/flu thing and need some antibiotics etc, I am clean, but don't care as much, the impact of not being taken serious is less critical, so I am tired /sick and will not be as bothered to pull things together - clean is what I go for and that will do. But for serious matters, or mental health stuff, yep, I dress well and will take care in how I come across.

I just did a quick google now and there are quite a few studies supporting the theory of unconscious bias not only limited to how well you dress, but age ( elderly patients not listed to), women being taken less seriously, obese patients, race etc. all can affect your treatment. So if the appointment is critical I will dress appropriately and well.

Thats not my experience.

😂😂

@rightsraptor, when I went into early labour and explained dh would be a while because was in court, an assumption was made that he was in the Dock. The snr midwife came and perched on the bed and told me she imagined I must be going through a very stressful time. "Er yes, it is always stressful when he's in court", cue hand pat and look of alarm. At which point, the penny dropped and I noted "he's the barrister for the prosecution". At which point I got a ticking off because I'd worried everyone.

I try to remember to wear something with loose sleeves if I'm having blood taken or a vaccination - that's about the extent of 'dressing' for the occasion.

Oh, & no holes in socks if I need to take my shoes off.

My GP does seem to notice. I have quite a few appointments due to various health issues
Last time I was there was with tonsillitis and I felt so awful that I had no makeup on (which isn't like me at all) and she was "oh dear you do look ill"
Thanks for that

Unconscious bias is most definitely a thing. Last time I was in a&e (I was very seriously ill) DH said as soon as he mentioned I'm Dr Amethyst they were suddenly a lot more attentive. I'd like to think it's because they noticed how much pain I was in but he's sadly probably right.

She is not being ridiculous, unconscious bias is a real thing and doctors are only human after all.

It's true in all aspects of life really. I noticed a trend on instagram where people post about starting to dress smart when flying and noticing better treatment at the airport and on the plane.

It wouldn't occur to me to 'dress up', I just go in my normal clothes, which are quite respectable. Never had any complaints with doctors or treatment. I doubt it makes any difference.

Sometimes, but not necessarily with NHS staff. I've also been on the receiving end of snidey comments.

I was dressed smartly for my last Docs appt, only because I went from work. I do try to make an effort when I leave the house unless I physically can't.

I think self confidence definitely plays a part. I expect to be taken seriously but I’m often surprised at just how seriously they take the time to explain, draw diagrams etc. I’m pretty certain they don’t do that for everyone. They just wouldn’t have the time.
I’m not always dressed really smartly.

Always turn up clean and tidy. I think if you turn up looking like Waynetta Slob you get dismissed and the assumption is your life style choices are causing your problems, not something you can't control, like cancer.

@Birdisland - the scan operator was worried when he found out that you're a solicitor because that means you know the law and you might be Trouble. So he'd better start being nice to you.

When I was a midwife lots of my colleagues were nervous of any patient with the title 'doctor'. Most of the time they were PhDs, which always amused me.

You can tell quite a bit about someone's emotional state by what they're wearing. If they look like they've just thrown on whatever they found on the floor, not brushed their hair or bothered about mismatched socks etc they may be depressed.

Surely it's polite to dress reasonably well to go to an appointment with someone?

I wonder if the variety of opinions on here depends on what people’s idea of smart is?

I wouldn’t go out of my way dress up or put makeup on to go the doctors but I do make sure that me and my clothes are clean and tidy and there’s certain things I wouldn’t wear

I saw my consultant for a post op sign-off yesterday and I did indeed dress up, freshly done hair, make up, smart clothes, jewellery and good handbag.
I'd be damned if I was going to do anything less for a meeting with him in his beautifully cut suit, Lobb shoes and Hermès tie.
So I felt armed and able to hold my own in the face of all that urbane charm. I want them to take me seriously and be less likely to talk down to me, at the very least.

I also think if you have an RP accent you get taken much more seriously and people are more courteous to you.

I do believe in unconscious bias.

Daily shower, hair always neat and tidy, always a bit of make-up, always tidy, always a spritz of perfume. No bling but good rings, watch, etc. It's the same whether I am dressed for work (smart casual) or not dressed for work (tidy casual). I don't differentiate between the Dr or Tescos.

The people at Tescos are always polite and helpful. NHS staff are not. GPs can be arrogant and dismissive in my experience, hospital consultants are usually better but not always. Some reception/admin/nursing staff are excruciatingly rude.

My dentist and his staff are lovely.

My grannie always said to dress down for the Dr and Dentist so they didn't enhance the bill.