'Modesty gowns' offered to women patients

September 05, 2006

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The inter-faith gown

A HOSPITAL gown designed for women patients who wish to preserve their modesty for religious reasons has been introduced by NHS chiefs.

The é12 gowns cover the entire head, neck and body, leaving only a small gap for the patient's eyes.

They have been designed to comply with rules on women's dress which are part of the Muslim, Hindu, Orthodox Jewish and Rastafarian faiths.

Hospital chiefs across Greater Manchester have confirmed that they are considering the new gowns and they are expected to become a familiar sight in NHS hospitals within the next year. The gowns will go on sale from November after being tested for the past 12 months at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, where they proved popular with patients.

Reality

They were the idea of Karen Jacob, the linen services manager at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals. The NHS Innovations system helped her turn her idea into a commercial reality.

She 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.

"So far, the use of the gown at our trust has produced some very positive feedback from patients."

The gowns come with trousers and two different styles of head-dress. They also have elasticated cuffs to prevent women's arms being revealed.

A Yorkshire company, Interweave Textiles, is producing the gowns.

Edna Robinson, chief executive of Trafford Healthcare Trust, confirmed the gowns would be made available to patients. She said: "Anything which makes a patient feel comfortable and respects what is important to them we would consider. "In this instance the trust will be ensuring that interfaith gowns are available for those patients wishing to use them."

Ruth Holt, chief nurse at South Manchester Hospitals Trust, said: "We would support any option that provide increased privacy and dignity for our patients and will look at the benefits of interweave gowns and how we could potentially introduce them at South Manchester."

A spokeswoman for Bolton Hospitals' Trust said: "We have had no complaints or issues raised by patients about the gowns.

"However it is certainly an interesting idea which we will look at once they become available."

NHS Innovations' manager Dr Richard Deed said: "It has already made a big difference to patients at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is an excellent example of how innovation in the NHS helps improve patient care."

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Al Capone, Atherton (05/09/2006 at 11:58)

Fair enough. But I honestly think that people with mental health issues or alzheimers will be frightened to death by these outfits. Seriously.

Katie, Manchester (05/09/2006 at 12:04)

Al Capone your'e spot on there! Next they will be doing burberry ones for chavs and black ones for goths.

Nicola, manchester (05/09/2006 at 12:14)

I bet they dont gape open at the back either do they. Not like the one i had to wear.......talk about preserving your modesty.....and i had to walk half way across the hospital in it. It was freezing and difficult carrying a drip and trying to hold the back of it together at the same time.

Big Blue Doris, Lower Lymm (05/09/2006 at 14:19)

I would have to be really ill before wore one of them.

mumx3, manchester (05/09/2006 at 14:34)

Have the NHS got nothing better to spend their money on??? They should be concerving their energy and money on reducing the long waiting list and reducing infection rates (MRSA etc). This is something that someone chooses to wear and is not an essential to making them better. If they want these gowns then they should be asked to pay for them and if they wont pay then they shouldn't get.

mad manc, manchester (05/09/2006 at 16:03)

What a joke....what about spending the money available ( in an NHS which is in deficit i may add) on cleaning cloths and disinfectant ( a few pence) to stop MRSA spreading in our filthy hospitals killing our loved ones!!!

Andrew, Glossop (05/09/2006 at 16:10)

I find spending NHS cash in this way a complete waste of resources - this must be extremely hurtful to the thousands of NHS staff currently being made redundant. Try spending it on cleaning our hospitals and saving lives instead of wasting funds on cultural items. These could be offered but at an additional cost.

Barry Watts, Manchester (05/09/2006 at 17:23)

I am disappointed that the NHS are spending their money is this way, It could be spent on providing a salary for a nurse to care for patients, we are in Britain, if the hospitals dont abide by your faith, then dont use them, go and get patient care elswhere.

JOJO, Dukinfield (05/09/2006 at 17:40)

Does that mean I can wear my Darth Vader Costume if Im a scientology believer???
Wow cant wait!

Frank, Salford. (05/09/2006 at 17:47)

How stupid can the people in charge be. Anyone could use those gowns and gain access to a hospital with a firearm concealed under the gown without being recognised. This country makes me dispare.

Nu, Manchester (05/09/2006 at 18:24)

Haven't any of you READ the news piece correctly?? it clearly states at the beginning of the article that the GOWNS COST ¿¿12 EACH. READ AGAIN!!

Pat Dixon, Lancashire (05/09/2006 at 18:26)

I wonder what people would say if nudists said that they did not want to wear anything as it was against their principles.
And whatever happened to "when in Rome do as the romans do." This is going too far and religion gone mad.

Mich Harrington, Fareham Hants (05/09/2006 at 19:23)

The lunitics have finally taken over the asylum.

Pam Gruber, Exeter (05/09/2006 at 20:43)

Truly nuts!

Carol, Manchester (05/09/2006 at 20:59)

I find this disusting that the NHS can't find anything better to do with there time & money. People have had to put up with the gowns gaping at the back for years. What about modesty for all then. I thought at first it was a new gown for theater staff, could you imagine coming round from a operation to see that. (Al Capono said it all)) Yes they should be looking at designing a new gown one that is approprate for every one not just because of religious reasons. I am sure if people want to cover their bodies to that extent they would provide their own gowns. I did not see the hospitals in the Lebanon using these type of gowns, they just had normal gowns, I think it's time the people in high places looked again at where they spend the tax payers money which pay their High wages. Too many Chiefs and not enough workers. Back to the Old Fashion ways, with Matron running the hospitals at least the staff were where they were needed the most on the wards and the hospital were a lot cleaner. I worked in a bakery and we weren't allow to go the work in our overalls (health & safety) yet the amount of time I have seen people which look like theater gowns walking round super markets. No wonder we have MSRA in our hospitals.

Scully, Suffolk (05/09/2006 at 22:39)

I think this ridiculous.
Too much is being done for these religion, and these garments I think are an insult to the British way of life.
This is Britain and if they dont like the way we live no one is stopping them going so why is everyone always bending backwards to appease these men who insist women wear things like this...
The woman who thought of this obviously has too much time on her hands so maybe the trust should find her more work to do....instead of wasting tax payers money

Wendy, devon (05/09/2006 at 22:58)

I find these garbs that these ridiculous women wear an insult to the british way of life and the women stupid for listening to a man telling them what to wear.
They live in the 21st century, they no longer live in a backward country and have to obey a man.
Why is this country pandering to these religions......all run by men for the benifit of men......if they dont like it they know they can go anytime back to a country that supports theirs view and medieval ways.....
but I for one do not want to see this in our hospitals.
Suffragettes fought hard for womens rights and now we are going backwards slowly but surely.

Derek, Sydney (06/09/2006 at 00:28)

There is only one religion that requires such gowns. This is the wedge being driven in a little further. May you "Britons Awake" while you still can.

Dr No., Wilmslow (06/09/2006 at 01:50)

This is a joke,..right ?

National Health Service....
which nation ?

Give me a break.

Voguegirl, Manchester (06/09/2006 at 08:53)

Absolutely ridiculous. This means that anyone can come into our hospitals and not be recognised on CCTV and as someone has stated, what's to stop somebody concealing a weapon underneath them?
This country has gone mad, we've managed for years with the ordinary backless gowns and nobody has complained because as patients, we are there to get better.
This is Britain, if our health services aren't good enough, don't use them.

David, Manchester (06/09/2006 at 10:27)

I object to this because I am profoundly deaf, I am also acting behalf the deaf community. I also work in NHS.

We deaf cannot lipread and use sign language with someone who got gown on. This is INSULTING to deaf community.

If this person with gown on come to me at hospital,k i will simply tell them to get lost.

Colin W, Stockholm (06/09/2006 at 10:32)

Is this a free bored or are the MEN abiters of censorship on posts here??

Hayley, Slap Bang in the middle of Manchester (06/09/2006 at 10:49)

These 'costumes' may cost ¿¿12.00 does that mean that those on benefits would get them free?

Whose paying for them then, no doubt tax payers like myself!

PW, Manchester (06/09/2006 at 11:12)

Colin, you're not allowed to say what you really think. You might upset those people who are already upsetting you. I try to moderate my posts, but not all get through.

a, ashton (06/09/2006 at 11:12)

this is a joke !! you can't have boiled water for your newborn babies no more as it cost the nhs to much money !! they tell you that the water is in the milk now so if they can't give babies a drink of water couse of money cost !! then where do the money come from to pay for these new gown's
WHAT A BIG JOKE THIS IS

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