IN MY VIEW . . . BRING BACK WHITE COATS

IT WASN’T so long ago that hospital doctors (and some GPs) would wear a white coat. Then, in 2008, the Labour government decided to ban it — ostensibly because white coats were a vehicle for the spread of infection.

There is no doubt white coats (and nurses’ uniforms) carry bacteria. But that will be true whatever clothing is worn, and at least a white coat can be changed daily.

Anyway, the presence of bacteria is not the same as actually transferring infection. I can’t find any research confirming that white coats — or ties (now also banned) — transmit infection from one patient to another.

But the ban wasn’t just about bacteria (or emphasising the democratic nature of healthcare teams). It was also a political move orchestrated by management so it could take over the running of healthcare. De-professionalising doctors by banning the ‘uniform’ that set them apart, reducing them to the level of technicians and, in turn, diminishing their authority, sent a signal: management was now in charge.

Several different studies show that what doctors wear is important to patients, with up to 65 per cent in support of white coats. In another study, ‘formal attire under a white coat’ was ranked as patients’ preferred attire.

What doctors wear has an effect on whether their patients see them as trustworthy, caring, knowledgeable, and approachable — all of which play a role in patient satisfaction and, therefore, treatment outcomes. I respectfully suggest that jeans, tattoos, piercings and a casual or ungroomed appearance have the opposite effect.

It’s time to bring back the white coat.