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TrusTECH® strikes NHS deal with Interweave Textiles
TrusTECH, the NHS organisation that manages innovation for the North West NHS, has brought together an inventor and a commercial manufacturing company to produce a unique hospital gown designed to preserve the modesty of patients whose culture or religion requires them to be modestly clothed.
TrusTECH has played a fundamental role in the project by managing the intellectual property associated with the gown and negotiating the licence agreement between the NHS Trust and Interweave Textiles. The Inter-Faith Gown is set to hit the UK healthcare market later this year.
Designed by Karen Jacob (Linen Services Manager, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), the gown will provide extra comfort for patients undergoing medical procedures. The gown will be manufactured and marketed by Interweave Textiles Limited, under licence from Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Several other NHS Trusts have already expressed an interest in stocking the gown, which will be available from 1 November 2006.
Karen Jacob explained that, “Patients are often uncomfortable about being asked to disrobe or remove garments preserving their modesty and may miss treatment. The use of the gown in this Trust (e.g. X-Ray and maternity departments) has demonstrated extremely good patient acceptance, particularly among Muslim women. I wasn’t sure how to take my idea forward, but TrusTECH has really helped me to make it a reality”.
Tim Meadows, Customer Services Manager, Interweave Textiles Limited, said: “We welcome any opportunity to work with the NHS on innovative product ideas. Following initial research, Interweave Textiles has complete confidence in the market potential of the gown and is keen to get the product on the shelf.”