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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Why are some NHS staff unkept looking?

400 replies

BoozySuzie · 29/01/2008 17:33

I don't visit hospitals often thank goodness but I can't help but notice a lot of staff in hospitals are quite scruffy. Surely working in a hospital environment it is imperitive to be spotlessly clean and well groomed?? The Philipino nurses always look clean and tidy it's just our staff.

OP posts:
pointydog · 29/01/2008 17:40

Are you talking about the full range of NHS staff or just some job groups?

The HR people will look spotless but their hearts are black.

CaptainCod · 29/01/2008 17:41

secretaries all look the same ime

BoozySuzie · 29/01/2008 17:41

The nurses in particular.

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pointydog · 29/01/2008 17:42

scruffy or dirty?

Unfitmother · 29/01/2008 17:43

YABU
Perhaps because they are poorly paid?
I would be more concerned with their standards of hygiene, clinical competance and professional skill
BTW it's unkempt and imperative

Mercy · 29/01/2008 17:44

Erm, NHS employees are generally low paid and many work shifts.

Being well groomed doesn't have any bearing on clean hands etc.

bookthief · 29/01/2008 17:45

I work in a hospital and being presentable, and, obviously above all, clean is very much part of the culture. Not sure what you mean by scruffy - hairstyles? Clothes?

I did meet a drop-dead gorgeous surgeon once who unfortunately had the most awful BO but to be fair he'd been working very hard.

DrNortherner · 29/01/2008 17:46

You don't visit hospials often but you notice the staff are dirty?

pointydog · 29/01/2008 17:47

Maybe Boozy, Phillipinos are more neat and tidy than Brits? Do you think so?

BoozySuzie · 29/01/2008 17:48

Scruffy creased clothes and scruffy hair. Some look like they've never seen a shower. I'm not talking about glamour pusses.

OP posts:
yogimum · 29/01/2008 17:50

Bring back the matron.

pointydog · 29/01/2008 17:50

They always looked neat as a pin on ANgels

Kathyis6incheshigh · 29/01/2008 17:50

I can't say I'm hugely bothered about creased clothes and tidy hair, to be honest. I want them to wash their hands, but looking smart is no guarantee they'll have done that.

Unfitmother · 29/01/2008 17:51

I used to wear a starched collar, long sleeves and a frilly lace hat.
My 'scruffy' tunic and trousers allow better standards of moving and handling practices and infection control compliance.
But, perhaps it's more important that I look pretty?

CaptainUnderpants · 29/01/2008 17:51

BRING BACK MATRON !!!

She would get them back in order !

But in general aren't we getting a more scruffier and casual in our appernace - I blame a labour government !

tissy · 29/01/2008 17:52

as part of my job I am regularly peed on by babies, and sometimes pooed on too. At other times I get covered in plaster. I don't wear a white coat (because I work with kids and apparently it's scary , but even if I did want to, we're not allowed to now, as they're said to be unhygienic.

For this reason I usually wear trousers/ tops that are machine washable, and as I rarely have time to iron, most of my tops are cotton jersey, log sleeve V-necks. Compared to some I may be scruffy, but I assure you, I shower every day, and my hand hygiene is pretty good.

BoozySuzie · 29/01/2008 17:53

lol at CaptainUnderpants

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Unfitmother · 29/01/2008 17:53

Where have you lot been?
Matron is back and is much more concerned with the reduction of hospital associated infection than pretty hair styles.

pointydog · 29/01/2008 17:54

can be a bugger to iron cheap polyester

BoozySuzie · 29/01/2008 17:55

Unfit - I am not saying nurses should be dolly birds. Some look scruffy, and well tbh, quite dirty looking.

OP posts:
Ubergeekian · 29/01/2008 18:00

I suspect it's a status thing. Everybody dresses as scruffily as their position will let them get away with.

Unfitmother · 29/01/2008 18:01

I'm intrigued by your definition of 'dirty-looking'. What do you mean, physical signs of dirt, or like someone has done a days work?
Plastered all over my ward are 'It's OK to ask' posters telling patients that if they haven't seen a memeber of staff clean their hands then they should ask them to do so.
If I saw filty-looking staff then I would report it.

RTKangaMummy · 29/01/2008 18:02

My best friend is a nurse and she works 12 hours in one shift

She works very hard and not much pay even though she has been a senior nurse for many years

edam · 29/01/2008 18:04

My sister's a nurse. A typical shift runs from 6.30am and she usually stays an hour and a half after it ends because there just isn't time to do all the paperwork as well as the patient care in the alleged working day. She works through without a meal break - average day she has a cup of tea when she starts and then might get another one if she's very lucky.

I wouldn't be surprised if she looked a bit scruffy by the end of the day, tbh, she's lifting patients and running around like a blue arsed fly for the best part of ten hours.

BoozySuzie · 29/01/2008 18:04

and your point Kanga???

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