No more white coats for doctors in Scotland

The traditional doctor's white coat, their trademark uniform for more than a century, is to dropped by all NHS hospitals in Scotland as part of a new "dress code" for all medical staff.

The iconic garment, originally adopted to lend doctors authority and improve cleanliness, will be banned next year along with ties, wrist watches and wearing pens and scissors in outside pockets, in a new drive to combat the spread of infections in hospitals.

The ban goes further than in England. While health ministers in London have advised against wearing white coats on wards — because the cuffs pick up infection and make it harder to wash hands — individual NHS trusts are allowed to set policy locally.



The Scottish health secretary, Nicola Sturgeon, announced that all NHS staff apart from doctors would also be given new uniforms next year to update the service's "corporate image" and make uniforms cheaper and easier to buy.

Clinical staff, such as nurses, physiotherapists and midwives, will be allowed to choose a short-sleeved shirt or blouse in one of four shades of blue, while ancillary staff such as cleaners and porters will chose a shade of green.

The new dress code will also prohibit medical staff from leaving work in their uniforms, except where it is part of duties to work in the community or in emergencies, again to prevent cross-contamination.