Why are some NHS staff unkept looking?

[BoozySuzie]

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.

well, i;d rather have a nurse or midwife who looked like she;d worked hard and actually done some nursing, rather than a dolly diva in a crisp uniform, worrying more about getting puke down her than actually nursing

so i'll take the scruffy nurse with a fantastic work ethic anyday

there is no time to pee, never mind eat half the time.

But have nurses always been this scruffy? I am sure they used to be more presentable many years ago, or was I dreaming ?

many years ago, before PCTs were driven by business men, profit margins and cold hard cash, there were adequate staff, time for breaks and less staff off term on long term sick leave due to the hideous conditions of working in an overstretched, undersaffed NHS// so there was more time for a shampoo and set and a crisp uniform

Get up at 05:30, kids up at 06:00, leave house at 06:30, drop them off at childminder 07:30, start work at 08:00, work until 20:30, pick kids up after work.
Sorry if I look a bit scruffy at work, I blame the scrubs they make us wear and the hours we have to work

God, I love scrubs. I'd wear 'em all day every day if I could. They cover a multitude of sins.

I must admit when I first got the festival of polyester that is my uniform, I was a wee bit disappointed that it didn't include a starched hat with wings, an apron and those puffy sleeve things. And a cape. I do want a cape.

But really, day-to-day I have more important things to worry about. As long as my hands are clean and I'm not dripping amniotic fluid over anyone, I don't see a problem.

I'd forgotten all about the cape!!!! Bright red, with a blue uniform, grey tights and black shoes -lovely

oooh snaf, you is hoooooooooooooot !

am thinking about buying scrubs to wear at home, far better for dealing with a toddler ! no worries about getting the organic fruits of the forest compote out of my cashmere boden tunic !

I had a bit of a shock when I joined the RAF after working in the NHS for 9 years. You do have to wear a cape (tippet) and a veil, very smart but very impractical!!!!!!!

Wouldn't it be nice though if we could all look as well groomed and unflustered as they do on the likes of ER

same uniform today

sorry, forgot ER isn't real

McD, that is the reason I didn't join the Forces as a nurse, came very close to joining the RAF as they had the best uniform out of the 3 but......decided to marry a sailor instead!

Unfortunately tv portrays nurses like Chrissie on holby whose dress is so tight she'd never be able to bend down to make a bed or wash a patient in it.
Her hair always looks immaculate and perfect make-up.

To be honest when youve worked til 9.30pm one night, then got up at 5am to start the morning shift, your hair and make up is not top of the agenda

Might have had to wear an impractical uniform but had a great time doing it

Can't believe op - this is a wind up, right? Last time I was in a hospital it was to sit with my dying father. I couldn't give a toss how the staff looked. They were caring and compassionate despite having to work ridiculously long hours under tough conditions for below the national salary.

My mum worked as a receptionist in the NHS. (In or for?)

If you had to wash and iron her cheap polyester uniform, you might find yourself looking rather unkempt. Not to mention the fact that she never got enough uniforms so had to wash and iron every day.

Who could blame the nursing staff for not bothering to iron, after the long day that they have just put in?

Not sure if there is a reason for this thread.

I don't care if they are overweight or scruffy. Wouldn't bother me in the slightest

Boozysusie, are you a floozie,

Right, where to start. You only get 4 uniforms (tunics) and 2 pair of trousers and sometimes work 10 days in a row, so it is wash and wear.

You finish a shift at 10pm and start the next shift at 7am.

You are allowed to get new uniforms every 4 years (yes, so we appear in rags).

You get too many patients, too much work and no breaks and are unappreciated by too many people (probably people whose name is Susie).

Patients and relatives spit at you, punch you in the chest/stomach, pull your hair, pull your uniform.

You get pooh, urine and blood all over you.

So, booziesuzie, what is your job? Please tell me and then i can make some unresearched stupid comment about your appearance without actually having ever met you.

PS, I actually shower before my shift and bath when I get home - wow a nurse who washes!!!

mosschops stands up to give cheshirekitty a round of applause well said

The thread is not a wind up I have genuinely noticed how scruffy and unkempt a lot of nurses look. And for the 10th time I do not expect all nurses to look like dolly birds.

And Marti is right, a high % of nurses are very overweight, it's hardly showing a good example to patients is it? I mean the first thing a doctor will say to you if you have heart trouble, back trouble, high blood pressure etc etc etc is to lose a bit of weight.

well said kitty !

and again, you have had nurses and people involved in the NHS responding to your points, and you are not coming back with anything.....

I guess nurses are human, like the rest of us.
As long as they do their job well why do you care?

Shift work makes you overweight, this is well researched FACT. Working nights predisposes you to diabetes, also well researched fact.

What do nurses do, oh we work shifts and nights.

Would you like me to add 1+1 for you boozysuzie, or can you manage by yourself?

You have not told us what you do for a living. I would be interested to know.