NHS/Royal Derby Hospital
A hospital trust has become the first in the UK to introduce disposable sterile hijabs for staff.
The Royal Derby Hospital launched the headscarves earlier this month after one of its junior doctors came up with the idea during her training.
Farah Roslan, who is Muslim, said the invention was the result of needing to find a middle ground between “dress code due to faith” and the “passion” of being in the operating theatre.
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She added that the headscarves provide a solution to infection control concerns relating to hijabs, which are typically worn throughout the day.
“I’d been using [the same headscarf] all day which obviously wasn’t clean and ideal,” Roslan told BBC Radio Derby.
“I didn’t feel comfortable taking it off and I was pulled out from the theatre, respectfully, due to infection control.”
The junior doctor turned to Malaysia, the country of her birth, for inspiration before creating the final design and testing a variety of fabrics.
“I’m really happy and looking forward to seeing if we can endorse this nationally,” she said.
Consultant surgeon Gill Tierney, who mentored Roslan during her time at the Royal Derby Hospital, said the trust was the first to introduce the disposable headscarves in the UK.
“We know it’s a quiet, silent, issue around theatres around the country and I don’t think it has been formally addressed,” Tierney explained.
“It hasn’t cost much and hopefully the effect will be enormous.”
It is hoped the items can be introduced nationally but NHS England said it would be up to individual trusts.
The hospital has received praise on social media following the introduction of the headscarves, with one person writing on Twitter: “Awesome! Well done for being so inclusive.”
Another person agreed, adding: “Inclusivity? we LOVE to see it.”
Earlier this month, sportswear brand Nike launched its first ever modest swimwear collection, which included a waterproof hijab.
The brand said the collection was inspired by swimmers who found the current options, which don’t provide full coverage, a “barrier” to enjoying the sport.
Other items in the collection include a full-coverage swimsuit, a swim tunic top and swim leggings.