By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 23:24 EST, 12 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:32 EST, 13 June 2013 . Doctors have become so casual about their work attire that patients struggle to identify their position at a hospital . Unless they return to a more traditional uniform, they risk ‘eroding’ the patients’ trust in their competence, a senior consultant has warned. Medical staff in white coats and ties have become a rare sight since they were banned by the NHS in 2007, restricting the wearing of the classic attire to private practices. Dress to impress: Unless they dress in proper uniforms, doctors risk losing the respect of patients as they struggle to identify their position at a hospital . Following a decision by the Department . of Health, doctors were ordered to remove ties, watches, coats and . shirts and remain ‘bare below the elbow’ in order to make it easier to . wash their hands and prevent spreading bacteria. ‘I hear that patients complain that . they do not know who the doctor is: no tie, no white coat, no jacket and . no presence,’ Stephanie Dancer, consultant microbiologist at Hairmyres . hospital, Lanarkshire writes in the British Medical Journal. ‘Untidiness erodes the image of . doctors as responsible and competent.’ ‘[Smartness] gives confidence to . patients who might be facing life or death decisions.’ Dr Dancer writes that the 2007 ban has . been seen as a ‘green light’ for doctors to dress casual and adds that . there is no evidence that wearing a white coat helps spread infection. Scruffy versus smart: Casually dressed Dr House, played by Hugh Laurie, is surrounded by his properly attired colleagues in the popular US television series . However the Department of Health stands firm in their ban of white coats. ‘NHS staff should wear short-sleeved . tops and not wear white coats during patient activity – being “bare . below the elbow” makes it easier for staff to wash their hands and lower . arms regularly,’ a spokesperson told The Times. ‘However, NHS staff should also dress in a way which inspires public and patient confidence. Dr Dancer argues the opposite, saying . that casual attire may have the opposite effect as ‘street clothes’ may . not be washed regularly enough, compared to a white hospital coat. ‘It could be argued that ditching the . white coat and tie for hygiene purposes has had the converse effect, in . that the informal attire now gracing our wards has encouraged a less . robust view of infection control.’
The ban on white coats for medical staff is confusing NHS patients .
Doctors in casual dress also 'risks losing patients' confidence and trust'
NHS banned doctors from wearing ties, coats, shirts and watches in 2007 .
By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 23:24 EST, 12 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:32 EST, 13 June 2013 . Doctors have become so casual about their work attire that patients struggle to identify their position at a hospital . Unless they return to a more traditional uniform, they risk ‘eroding’ the patients’ trust in their competence, a senior consultant has warned. Medical staff in white coats and ties have become a rare sight since they were banned by the NHS in 2007, restricting the wearing of the classic attire to private practices. Dress to impress: Unless they dress in proper uniforms, doctors risk losing the respect of patients as they struggle to identify their position at a hospital . Following a decision by the Department . of Health, doctors were ordered to remove ties, watches, coats and . shirts and remain ‘bare below the elbow’ in order to make it easier to . wash their hands and prevent spreading bacteria. ‘I hear that patients complain that . they do not know who the doctor is: no tie, no white coat, no jacket and . no presence,’ Stephanie Dancer, consultant microbiologist at Hairmyres . hospital, Lanarkshire writes in the British Medical Journal. ‘Untidiness erodes the image of . doctors as responsible and competent.’ ‘[Smartness] gives confidence to . patients who might be facing life or death decisions.’ Dr Dancer writes that the 2007 ban has . been seen as a ‘green light’ for doctors to dress casual and adds that . there is no evidence that wearing a white coat helps spread infection. Scruffy versus smart: Casually dressed Dr House, played by Hugh Laurie, is surrounded by his properly attired colleagues in the popular US television series . However the Department of Health stands firm in their ban of white coats. ‘NHS staff should wear short-sleeved . tops and not wear white coats during patient activity – being “bare . below the elbow” makes it easier for staff to wash their hands and lower . arms regularly,’ a spokesperson told The Times. ‘However, NHS staff should also dress in a way which inspires public and patient confidence. Dr Dancer argues the opposite, saying . that casual attire may have the opposite effect as ‘street clothes’ may . not be washed regularly enough, compared to a white hospital coat. ‘It could be argued that ditching the . white coat and tie for hygiene purposes has had the converse effect, in . that the informal attire now gracing our wards has encouraged a less . robust view of infection control.’
patients’ trust in their competence, a senior they were banned by the NHS in 2007, restricting to remove ties, watches, coats and . shirts and as a ‘green light’ for doctors to dress casual firm in their ban of white coats. ‘NHS staff