A hospital trust is the first in the UK to give female Muslim doctors and medical staff disposal HIJABS to wear to avoid germs being passed to patients.
Junior doctor Farah Roslan had the idea while undergoing her training at the Royal Derby Hospital.
After gruelling hours on the wards, where she had been wearing a traditional hijab, she became concerned with the risk of infection to patients.
Ms Roslan, who is originally from Malaysia, looked to her home country for ideas of how to implement her plan for a disposable sterile headscarf.
She created a design and used fabrics that maintained a balance between showing respect to her faith and being able to perform in her work.
She said: “I’d been using the same headscarf all day which obviously wasn’t clean and ideal.
“I didn’t feel comfortable taking it off and I was pulled out of the theatre, respectfully, due to infection control.
“A middle ground had to be found between dress code due to faith and the passion of being in the operating theatre.
“I am so happy my vision has become a reality and that these headscarves are now available for all of the staff.
“I’m really happy and looking forward to seeing if we can endorse this nationally.”
Consultant surgeon Gill Tierney, who mentored Ms Roslan, said the trust was the first to introduce the headscarves in the UK.
She said: “We know it’s a quiet, silent, issue around theatres around the country and I don’t think it has been formally addressed.
“It hasn’t cost much and hopefully the effect will be enormous.”
Commenting on Twitter, Andy Ibbs said: “Nice one – but on reflection, I wonder why it hasn’t been done years ago!”
Another user, Victoria Parker said: “This is inspired!”
The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust said the new headscarves have been available since early December.
