History of the hospital gown design

Professor Anne Marie Rafferty, Head of the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing & Midwifery at King's, discusses the history of the hospital gown design on BBC Worldservice's 'Health Check' programme.

The traditional draughty and backless hospital gown is being redesigned by the designer Ben de Lisi, who will create a gown that will preserve patients' modesty.

The Design Council will unveil the design next month as part of a project to improve dignity across the NHS. Health Minister Ann Keen said the designer gowns would be introduced into NHS hospitals in England by early 2011.