NHS has introduced hospital gowns designed for women patients who wish to preserve their modesty for religious reasons.
It was revealed that the NHS bosses in Lancashire have asked a Calderdale firm is to make a new burka-style head-to-toe hospital, ‘Inter-faith’ gown for muslim women patients for protection of their religious beliefs.It was explained that the turquoise blue gown, which is considered the first of its kind to be introduced in the UK, has already been trailed on wards and is to be offered to all female Muslim patients at hospitals in Lancashire from next month. It was explained that during the stay in the hospital the traditional gowns did not cover patient’s heads, arms or legs, which is not in respect with their religion, the new gown would allow such patients to cover their entire body.
It has been reported that the idea and design of the new Inter-Faith Gown is the creation of Karen Jacob, who is the linen services manager at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The gowns are to be manufactured by Elland firm Interweave Textiles and the managing director Tim Meadows and his team at Victoria Works, are hoping to supply NHS trusts across the UK.
There is however a feeling that this innovation would flare up into a controversy in future, as many parts of the NHS are struggling with crippling debts and shutting hospital beds and the hospital bosses have not said how much the new gowns cost.
It has been announced that the muslim patients at the Preston and Chorley hospitals will have the opportunity to wear the gown if they wanted from the 1st of November. Ms Jacob said, “I noticed a gap in the market and thought that it would be great if there was a gown that helped to preserve a patient's modesty.” She explained that she had taken idea to TrusTech, which is the NHS organisation that manages innovation for the North West NHS, who apparently, which liked the idea.
According to the officials at the trust the gown is designed to provide extra comfort and cover for patients who are undergoing medical procedures, especially as their culture or religion requires them to be more modestly clothed. They further reported that the trials of the gown that were carried out at Royal Preston Hospital had an overwhelming response.
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