A project which aims to improve the dignity and care of patients by making sure they have a change of clothes if they are admitted to hospital in an emergency has been unveiled.

The scheme has been running at the Bradford Royal Infirmary since last month and provides unisex clothing from a special ‘dignity room‘ on one of the hospital wards for  adults who are being discharged and only have their nightwear with them.

Dawn Parkes, head of nursing in medicine at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “When someone is brought into the hospital by ambulance in a rush the priority is to get them emergency medical treatment as quickly as possible.

“If these emergencies take place at night, we often find that patients arrive on to the hospitals’ wards in their nighties or pyjamas.

“Once they are well enough to go home, these patients may still only have their nightwear to travel in, and despite being covered with a blanket or a dressing gown in the ambulance, we feel it is more dignified for people to be able to return home in day wear.”

Following a request from nursing staff at the Foundation Trust, the Friends of the Bradford Royal Infirmary stepped in to provide the initial funding for the scheme. A
£1,000 donation supplied the initial purchase of unisex clothing items and the new ‘dignity room’ which is located on ward 30 (elderly) opened at the start of December.

Staff from across the Foundation Trust can gain access to the room when a patient is due to be discharged home in their nightwear following an emergency admission. The room holds a selection of men and women’s t-shirts, jogging bottoms, fleeces and jumpers, socks and suitable footwear like slippers which can be provided to patients before they embark on their trip home.

Trevor Constantine, Friends of the Bradford Royal Infirmary chairman, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this patient care initiative as the Friends don’t just volunteer throughout the wards and departments of the hospitals, they also help provide invaluable resources to patients through schemes like the dignity room.”