Do you wear scrubs as a private GP when seeing patients?
What infection control guidance actually says about clothing, the case for and against scrubs, and what to put in your dress code.
The short answer
It is your choice: no rule requires private GPs to wear scrubs, and if you work for a clinic or hospital you follow its uniform policy. What does matter is being bare below the elbows for hand hygiene and direct patient care, with no wrist jewellery or false nails, and keeping whatever you wear clean. Scrubs make that easy, but smart short-sleeved clothing meets the same standard.
Key points
- No law or regulator requires a GP to wear scrubs. The standard is effective hand hygiene and clean clothing.
- The national infection prevention and control manual says to expose forearms, remove hand and wrist jewellery and avoid artificial nails before hand hygiene.
- NHS England guidance finds no conclusive evidence that uniforms directly spread infection, but they must not get in the way of hand hygiene.
- A 10-minute wash at 60°C removes almost all micro-organisms from workwear.
- If you employ staff, put your expectations in a short dress code that also respects religious and cultural needs.
Your choice, within infection control rules
Whether you wear scrubs is up to you. If you work for a clinic, a private hospital or an online provider, follow its uniform policy. If you run your own service, you set the policy.
The CQC's infection prevention and control guidance for GP practices focuses on hand hygiene, PPE, cleaning and your IPC policy rather than on a particular style of clothing. The practical standard comes from national infection control guidance, and it applies whatever you choose to wear.
What the guidance requires
NHS England's National Infection Prevention and Control Manual says that before hand hygiene you should:
- expose your forearms, which is known as bare below the elbows
- remove hand and wrist jewellery, apart from a single plain metal ring, which should be removed or moved during hand hygiene
- keep fingernails clean and short, with no artificial nails or nail products
- cover cuts and abrasions with a waterproof dressing.
NHS England's uniforms and workwear guidance adds that there is no conclusive evidence that uniforms and workwear play a direct role in spreading infection. It still expects clothing to support good hand hygiene, not to touch patients during care, and to be clean at all times. It advises short sleeves and no white coats during patient care activity, because cuffs become heavily contaminated.
That guidance is written for NHS employers, but it is the best available standard, and a CQC inspector or a patient will judge you against something similar.
Scrubs or your own clothes?
| Scrubs | Smart clothes | |
|---|---|---|
| Bare below the elbows | Built in | Needs short sleeves or sleeves you can secure above the elbow |
| Washing | Designed for hot washes | Many fabrics will not tolerate 60°C |
| Protecting your own clothes | Yes | No |
| How patients see you | Clinical and clearly identifiable | Can feel more relaxed and less clinical |
| Suits | Procedures, phlebotomy, vaccination clinics, busy days | Longer consultations, mental health work, medicals |
Many private GPs mix the two, wearing smart clothes for consultations and scrubs or a disposable apron for procedures. Patients choosing a private GP often value a professional but approachable feel, so think about the image you want your service to have. Neither choice changes your PPE: use gloves and aprons according to your IPC policy, whatever you wear underneath.
Washing and changing
- NHS England's guidance says a 10-minute wash at 60°C removes almost all micro-organisms. Washing with detergent at lower temperatures, down to 30°C, eliminates MRSA and most other micro-organisms.
- Change immediately if your clothing is visibly soiled or contaminated with blood or body fluids.
- The same guidance finds no evidence of an infection risk from travelling in uniform, but says the public often perceive it as unhygienic. It recommends changing at work or covering your uniform when travelling.
- Keep a spare set at the practice.
Home visits and video consultations
On home visits the same hand hygiene standard applies, so carry alcohol hand rub, gloves and aprons, and wear clothing that lets you be bare below the elbows when you examine. For video consultations, dress as you would in clinic. Patients form their impression of your service from the screen too, and a consistent look across in-person and remote appointments helps.
If you employ staff
Write a short dress code as part of your infection control policy. Cover:
- bare below the elbows during direct patient care, and when it applies
- jewellery, nails, hair and footwear
- whether you provide uniforms and how they should be washed
- name badges, which help patients know who is caring for them
- how the code accommodates religious and cultural dress.
On the last point, NHS England's guidance allows staff to cover their forearms when not in direct patient care, provided sleeves can be pushed up and secured for hand hygiene. Disposable over-sleeves worn for religious reasons should be removed and replaced around hand hygiene. A religious bangle can be worn but should be moved up the arm and secured during care. Building these into your code from the start avoids difficult conversations later and helps you meet your duties under the Equality Act 2010.
For the rest of your infection control arrangements, see meeting health and safety standards. For how dress fits into the impression your service makes, see creating a brand for your practice.
Frequently asked questions
Will the CQC mark me down for not wearing scrubs?
We are not aware of any CQC requirement to wear scrubs. Inspectors look at whether your infection control arrangements work in practice, including hand hygiene and PPE.
Can I wear a watch during consultations?
NHS England's workwear guidance advises against wearing jewellery, including a wristwatch, on the hands or wrists during direct patient care. A fob watch or a clock in the room is a common alternative.
What about white coats?
NHS England's guidance advises against white coats during patient care, because cuffs become heavily contaminated and come into contact with patients.
Are ties a problem?
Anything that can touch the patient during an examination is a potential problem. If you wear a tie, secure it or remove it for examinations.
