To dress up for doctor’s appointments?

I imagine that someone seeking help for depression or similar would not have the energy or motivation or even the ability to 'dress up'. I would hope that these brave people who are reaching out for help would not be judged for not looking their best.

Opposite way for me actually. When I go looking ill the way I am with no make up, hair not brushed, comfy clothes etc the doctors take one look at me realise I’m ill and see me quicker. I’ve turned up at the hospital in pjs and slippers before, if I’m ill I couldn’t care less what I look like I just want treatment .

It's sadly definitely a thing.

23 years ago, when pregnant, because I was older I had to see a consultant: I'm a solicitor, his first question to me wasn't how's the pregnancy Ms DroveAgain - it was "and what sort of law do you do"

The temptation to say "clinical negligence" was nearly overwhelming, wish I had said it

I turned up at the doctors in my pjs as I was so ill, in fact I’d wet myself as I was vomiting so much. I looked a mess as my hair was greasy and I felt awful. I didn’t care. I was taken very seriously by the doctors.

Absolutely op. I go looking smart. I wear my NHS badge if I can possibly engineer it, and I give my NHS email address. Disgustingly it seems to make a lot of difference.
If my elderly Dad needs an appointment he will be lucky to get one in three weeks time. If a particular family member phones up and says he is Dr alumnus and wants to make an appointment for his father in law (my elderly Dad) he gets one that very day.

I’ve experienced it. I now make sure I always dress smartly for medical appointments as I then get taken seriously

Any chance you could stop stereotyping all doctors? We weren’t all private school educated upper middle class kids! I’m a doctor from a working class background, and don’t feel more comfortable around professionals wearing suits. I’m far more comfortable with less formality and more down to earth people.

I really don’t care what you wear. My only pet peeve is when patients wear clothes that take forever to get on and off. If you think you might need examined in a short appointment slot, wear something loose and easy to get in and off.

GPs aren’t interested in what you’re wearing, they’re interested in what you’re saying.

I wouldn't say so. The OP has a point, in my experience. It depends on both the area and the doctor.

When I was working, I'd normally attend an appointment in work suits. Now I'm retired and - following some years as a carer and now a widow - I have reached the "can't be arsed" stage and have started attending appointments in my jeans.

It makes no difference with my GP and with reasonably youthful hospital doctors, but an older consultant treated me like an idiot when I saw him.

He told me the name of my condition and then: "Oh, you won't know what that means!" (because it was in Latin). You had to be there: I promise he was being patronising, not explaining. I drily commented that my degree wasn't in medicine, but that I had done some Latin at school.

He then asked what my job was. I explained that I was a teacher, but only do a bit of supply these days and he stopped treating me as if I were daft. (I can't say that he was much help, however. I was advised to avoid stairs and walking on slopes...In Scotland?)

I live in a predominantly working class area. I recall when I was a student seeing a GP because the Blood Transfusion Service had refused a donation from me: the on-the-spot test that they had administered had shown that I was anaemic. (I'm not surprised - 20 yrs later, I was finally diagnosed with endo.) They insisted that I make an appointment to see my GP.

I duly did as I had been told. A blood sample was sent off for testing. On the return visit, the GP dismissed me with "Well, you're anaemic for a man, but you're not anaemic for a woman from this area!"

The next time I saw him, I wore my uni scarf. His attitude was very different.

Ex NHS clinical worker here. They'd be on a loser with me, I have never ever worn make up and I don't take a handbag because its less to manage in the consulting room. I don't "do" my hair. its either down or up in a clip. I don't own dress up clothes either. I agree with @Whatatodo79 appropriate clothes are whatever will make it easy to be examined if its needed and @StormingNorman makes a great point about covering complexion...its the same reason why people are asked not to wear acrylics or nail varnish when having hospital procedures. I do make sure that I am freshly showered and clean unless its an emergency. the only thing i do think is that seeing a doc, any doc can be a stressful experience and anything that makes you feel more comfortable and in control of the situation can only be a good thing.

I live by the advice my grandma always gave when attending doctors.
Have clean knickers and shower beforehand.
Other than that, I am quite happy to attend in leggings and a sweater and I have never had a problem where they have dismissed me.

I needed an urgent post c-section scan, and was pushed to the front of the queue. I was (understandably) a state in my nightie, unbrushed hair and crying (I was extremely unwell but desperate to go home).

The man performing the scan didn't attempt to hide his annoyance, until he found out I was a solicitor (as PP mentioned) and even in my traumatized state I marveled at the immediate change in his demeanor. He became polite, chatty and reassuring. Almost like he'd recategorised me in his head as a fellow professional, as opposed to hysterical woman. Infuriating.

Definitely. My experience of treatment completely changed once I went to an appointment from work/in what I'd worn for an important meeting - I've done it ever since.

Here's a tip, if you need to go to A & E make sure you wear a tiara. You'll be fast-tracked to a cubicle straight away. They will sometimes boot out a poorly dressed individual, especially if it is thought they may be malingering.

It's a thing

By Dm was horrified when my DF went to the go in an old T-shirt

I make a bit of an effort if I'm going to see my consultant for a condition I've had since childhood. So not if poorly poorly but still going to an Nhs appointment

I read years ago about a study that reported that middle class people get better treated or something along those lines so I always make an effort. Not that I really believe it makes any difference

You don't have to be feeling or looking desperately ill to see a doctor. You could have manners of things that you need to see a GP for...a dodgy looking mole, a lump, a rash, sore joints, ingrowing toenail...

I’ve found this too. When I took my DC to the GP I felt like I wasn’t taken seriously. DH took him and they were sent straight to the hospital for investigations. This has happened more than once, so DH takes the DC now when possible.

I also feel like GPs do judge appearance to some extent; I always try to make sure I look presentable before going.

Instinctively, I've usually upgraded my clothing from working rags to clean casual when attending medical and dental appointments as well as ensuring/timing my ablutions are at peak for close examinations and might even spray some of my precious perfume too.

I really had no idea that my instincts were acting/playing out for an actual reason not at all associated with my medical or dental needs. You live and learn.

As an aside, sometimes when I'm dressed at my scruffiest and about to do something filthy I give myself a spray of precious perfume just because.

I dont think you are ' desperately ill' if you can manage all that to visit the GP, do you?

YANBU

I don't wear smart clothes and look super scruffy but I am what used to be called well-spoken. I am always asked what my job is at any GP appointment I have. I always thought they were trying to establish whether I was there about an industrial injury but I asked around and most people are not asked this on every visit.

I am not asked this at hospital appointments, only the GP. I've moved a lot and it has happened at every GP since my early twenties.

I just tell the Dr I'm a solicitor. It works wonders.

Edit - I am actually a solicitor

It wouldn't remotely occur to me to do this. I'd be more likely to rely on my manner and words to make them take me seriously. But I guess I can do that because I happen to be MC, well-spoken, confident (and if necessary can use my teacher look and voice ). It's awful that people are not taken seriously because if superficial things. And because of being female, of course