To dress up for doctor’s appointments?

[PollencaCalling]

Really re: classism in medicine!

Unless desperately ill I never go to see a GP/consultant etc without making sure that I’m looking well put together. Of course I’m not talking formal attire - just nice, tidy outfit and good hair/makeup. My opinion is that this way things are taken more seriously, and from experience this has been the case. Spoke about it with a friend earlier who thinks I’m bonkers!

Although it shouldn’t be the case I do think that to some extent I am justified in thinking this. Some doctors certainly do still have a class bias and I have experienced it myself. Took DD to A&E a few years ago and got quite a nasty doctor who implied that she was making it up! Once she took her coat off and revealed a hoodie from her (quite MC grammar school) his opinion of her completely changed and he couldn’t have been more pleasant or helpful. It really bothered me at the time and has stuck with me since

You don’t need to be on death’s door for a regular appointment or a non urgent issue, especially when seeing consultants for reviews etc.

Unfortunately the hoodie was not my imagination. DD (17 at the time) was equally taken back by the complete and sudden change in attitude towards her.

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.

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

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’m not stereotyping all doctors - I’m an AHP and work with them!! The classism phenomenon is unfortunately known and true for some.

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.

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

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 .

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.

I had a morning appointment at the GPs once en route to work meetings, and I was in a very 2000s pastel skirt suit, heels and briefcase. The receptionist loudly told me that the doctor was far too busy to see me and I’d have to come back on Wednesday. She thought I was a medical rep from one of the pharmas.

My late husband eventually became a teacher, but he left school at 15 and his first job was in forestry.

One day, he put an axe through his leg. He was in terror - thought he was going to die. His boot filled with blood.

His workmates took him straight to the nearest doctor. The doctor berated him for not washing first. Woodcutting is a messy business, and you do need a good wash at the end of the day. Funnily enough, washing was the last thing on this mind at the time.

The doctor was a GP in the West Highlands of Scotland.

Nobody needs to be desperately ill to see a doctor, nor did I say that I/DD was.

I do this when I want prescriptions for medicines that are addictive for some people, so I'm taken more seriously

This is MN do everyone will tell you they never ever judge people on their appearance.
Back in the real world research has shown time and time again that everyone judges on appearance. Yes even educated, overworked doctors.

This is such a middle class thread.
Mostly significantly wealthy people we know are old money and don’t give a monkey’s about dress.

No need to be condescending.

I don't 'dress up' for a medical appointment. However, I do dress down, most days as I am retired and won't be going anywhere. So compared to 'everyday' attire, I am definitely 'dressed up'. That is
I've had a shower (I no longer shower every day, if I'm only dossing aroun at home)
I wear a proper bra (as oppsed to the crop top that sees me through an 'at home' day
I wear shoes (as opposed to slippers or crocs)

I do and wear what I think is approriate. And I do think that looks, words and demeanor have an impact on how a person is received and responded to, wven though it shouldn't

I'm a doctor and I don't notice what patients wear, just like I couldn't tell you if the last woman I examined removed their hair or not. Too busy focussing on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment etc. It's mental gymnastics during a consultation.

Yes but they will still have markers which differentiate them from working class people.

To be honest when I was going for gynae investigations I was more concerned about the consultant having to examine my nether regions then what I was wearing (leggings and hoodie) I still got an urgent referral without a fancy handbag. If your ill your ill. Actually I also have a respectable job but have never felt the need to broadcast it.

I have a job where I have interviewed many doctors and some of them are lovely and would not be biased, but some have, and have said terrible classist things about their poorer patients.

On a personal level, I always make sure I look like I mean business when I go into hospital, in the way I speak at the very least, even then I get patronised occasionally. Sadly, in an over-run system, the squeaky wheel gets the oil and if you are assertive, you get better care. It's not fair at all.

They start assessing you the minute you walk in. There is bias conscious or unconscious about appearance. And you will he treated differently based on the bias. Some doctors mention what you're wearing in the notes. My friend went to doctor and her notes said "dressed young for her age".

Hahaha it's so absurd it's funny - the best way to be treated better I've seen is to be in the NHS Club (largest workforce in Europe) - even more chance if you speak with some calm, quiet pseudo MC accent - despite screaming like a fishwife when off duty.

Obesity is overlooked as a cause for any ills and a fast track for any knee/joint replacement is ordered instead. And if you're banded high enough you can even fast track your closest relatives through some essential care that won't keep them alive and stops others who might survive from receiving it just because you have that power and are too mentally immature to accept that death is the natural conclusion to life.

Yes - I describe one of my sisters (NHS) and our deceased (for many years) DM, the latter expressing her wish to cease the pointless treatment and die in peace at home....but no.

They'd be on a loser with me

No, the point is you'd be on a loser with them.

Well thankfully my GPs are professional & treat you regardless of how you look. The first GP appointment I had last year at the start of a 5 month illness I turned up in jogging trousers an old t-shirt, my hair needed washed but I was too unwell & no make up. Despite that they didn't seem in the slightest distracted by my appaling appearance but were far more interested in my reason for going. Just as most doctors probably are.