A unique inter-faith gown has been designed by a member of staff at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to preserve patients’ modesty.

Karen Jacob, Linen Services Manager at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, came up with the invention after noticing a gap in the market. The gown provides extra comfort for patients undergoing medical procedures.

Muslim and Asian female patients will especially benefit from this new gown as the Asian culture and Islamic religion require them to be more modestly clothed. The blue gown, the first of its type in the UK, has already been tested on wards and will now be offered to all female Muslim patients at hospitals in Lancashire from from 1st November 2006 and will be manufactured by Interweave Textiles.

There has already been considerable interest from other NHS Trusts wanting to stock the gown. The inventor of the gown, Karen Jacob, and manufacturer, Interweave Textiles, were brought together by TrusTECH – the NHS organisation that manages innovation for the North West NHS.

TrusTECH played a fundamental role in the project. Karen 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.

“I wasn’t sure how to take my idea forward but TrusTECH have been fantastic in helping me to make it a reality and so far, the use of the gown at our Trust has produced some very positive feedback from patients.” Dr Richard Deed, TrusTECH Innovation Unit Manager, said:

“I am delighted that TrusTECH has played such an important role in the development of the gown. It has already made a big difference to patients at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and it is an excellent example of how innovation in the NHS helps improve patient care.”