British hospitals will replace the traditional — and often embarrassing — backless hospital gown with a new style created by one of the world’s top designers.
Ben de Lisi says his “aspirational” new design will preserve patients’ modesty.
“The old hospital gown was hideous, embarrassing, ill-fitting and probably ill-making too,” De Lisi said. “You are away from home, ill, and in hospital and you have to wear this horrific garment with your arse hanging out. Give me a break.”
He said his design means patients can have their modesty covered but still allow medics immediate access through clever “entrance points” in the gown.
“It’s infinitely dignified, yet practical,” he tells the BBC. “And Velcro doesn’t enter into the equation.”
The British Design Council will unveil the new gown next month as part of a project to improve dignity across the National Health Service, the BBC says.
The gown will be introduced into NHS hospitals by early 2011, says Health minister Anne Keen.
Chabad.org reported that the Rebbe once asked the founders of Laniado Hospital in Netanya, Israel, “Why is it called a Beit Cholim (the modern Hebrew term for hospital, which literally means ‘House of the Sick’)?
The Rebbe continued, “I would ask you to either call it a ‘House of Healing’ or a ‘Center for Healing’; for one goes to the hospital not to get sick, but rather to heal.”
Eventually it was called Merkaz Refui, a “Healing Center.”
whenever I was in the hospital B”H only 4 good things I hated leaving my room because of the gown, about time!
It’s about time. I was always appalled at the way those hospital “schmattes” degraded patients. When a person is r”l hospitalized they go through enough undignified procedures. Finally a garment that is practical and doesn’t dehumanize the patient. I would love to meet the designer and thank him.
We sometimes forget to think out ot the (well-established-nothing-to-talk-about) box! Yasher Koach!