HOSPITALS in East Lancashire will not be stocking a specially designed full-body gown for female Muslims who want to protect their modesty - for the time being at least.

The £12 inter-faith gowns cover a patient's entire head, neck and body, leaving just a slot for the eyes.

The burqua-style garments come with trousers, two styles of head-dress and elasticated cuffs to prevent women's arms from being revealed.

They were designed by hospital linen services manager Karen Jacobs, who works at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which covers Chorley and Preston Mrs Jacob realised that traditional hospital gowns were not sufficient for female Muslims whose religious beliefs require them to fully cover themselves up.

The gown has been trialled at Royal Preston Hospital and will go into use at the start of November. Several other NHS Trusts have already shown an interest in the gowns.

However, a spokesperson for East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, which runs Royal Blackburn Hospital and Burnley General Hospital, said: "We don't have any plans to start using the gowns at the moment.

"It may be something we consider in the future."

The gowns are manufactured by Yorkshire-based Interweave Textiles.

The patent for the gowns is owned by TrusTECH, the organisation which manages innovation for the NHS in the North West.