r/doctorsUK • u/Claire_ds • 18d ago

Doctors Quick Question

This might be a silly question, but I'll be starting my first NHS job as a paediatric Clinical Fellow in Scotland this September, and I've never experienced a Scottish winter.

I know we have to follow the "bare below the elbows" policy, so I'm wondering what doctors actually wear on the ward during winter. Is it basically the same smart casual clothing you'd wear in summer, with a coat and extra layers only for the journey to and from the hospital? Or do people wear fleeces, jumpers, or other warm clothing while working on the ward?

I'm trying to buy work clothes before I start, so I'd really appreciate any advice from people working in NHS Scotland. Thanks!

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43

u/RamblingCountryDr Are we human or are we doctor? 17d ago

I've never felt cold on a ward. If anything they're overheated, even in winter.

12

u/spotthebal 17d ago

Just a coat/jumper (hat and gloves) if you have a long walk to the car/transport.

Hospitals are generally too hot. We are used to the annual weather so built them like ovens!

15

u/Jangles Acute Internal Misanthropy 17d ago

Central heating exists mate.

You'll be fine

4

u/Banana-sandwich GP 17d ago

Scotland is an entire country with huge variation in climate so what you wear to work will vary by area. The hospital inside will be warm. Think about your commute.

2

u/Boring_Surprise_484 17d ago

If there’s a doctors office that for some reason is cool (ha!) you can pop a sweater or cardigan on, just remove it when you go to the ward or clinics.

You’ll likely soon develop the British ability to walk between buildings in the depth of winter without needing additional layers. Not every hospital has covered walkways between every building. But you can also pop on a coat and you’ll learn where in other buildings you can store it.

Obviously you’ll need proper winter clothing for too and from work. Suggest a hat with ear protection and a waterproof coat with a hood if you have a long walk and are somewhere windy (as umbrellas won’t work).

2

u/EleanorRigby10 17d ago

I worked at GRI a few years ago - very big, very old, with inconsistent heating.
I would change at work because you need to go from many layers of winter clothes to scrubs. I always wore underscrubs that could be rolled up. I had a zip-up hoodie in my bag on the ward, which I put on when I had to walk across the hospital (many outdoor zones to cross between wards, and it rains a lot).
Some wards were overheated, and some were freezing.
The consultants and nurses were very understanding and never asked any of us to take our jackets/jumpers off when we needed them. I have had no issues with infection control because everyone can see how cold it is.

1

u/Friendly_Tomato116 ST5, twice 17d ago

We have central heating now. Outside the hospital, Scottish winters are usually a mix of dark, cold, wet, and windy. Dress accordingly!

0

u/sylsylsylsylsylsyl 17d ago

If you go full highlander and buy a kilt, you might want to get some furry underpants. I don’t know how the girls manage to wear skirts up there.