Royal Derby Hospital in the UK has introduced disposable sterile headscarves for staff to use in the operation rooms – and it’s believed to be the first such solution introduced to this delicate question!
Junior doctor Farah Roslan, a Muslim of Malaysia origin, had the idea during her training at the hospital.
She thought of it when after realizing that her hijab might carry infections as she used the same one throughout the day.
Source: BBC
Hopefully, the whole nation will accept this innovation, but according to NHS England, it will still be up to the individual hospitals.
Farah, who is currently working in Lincolnshire, said that it occurred to her during her studying years as a medical student in University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust.
Source: Columbia Surgery
“I’d been using the same headscarf all day which obviously wasn’t clean and ideal,” she 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.”
She said that she wanted to create a foundation that compliments both “dress code due to faith” and the “passion” of being a surgeon.
Farah got her inspiration from Malaysia before creating a design and testing fabrics.
“I’m really happy and looking forward to seeing if we can endorse this nationally,” she continued.
Farah’s mentor, Gill Tierney – who is also a consultant surgeon, was confident that the headscarves were the first to be introduced 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,” she said.
“It hasn’t cost much and hopefully the effect will be enormous.”
The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust said the new headscarves were available to use for the first time earlier in December.
Source: BBC
Meanwhile, Farah looks up highly to her mentor. “Miss Tierney has allowed me to pursue my dreams. She is an inspiration to female leaders in healthcare, especially theatres. She has inspired me a significant amount.”
Awesome! It’s about time really, hopefully with this more Muslim surgeons will have a chance at the job globally.
Also read: Meet 16yo M’sian Emir Haady, The Youngest Student To Enroll In the Royal College Of Surgeons
