Patients in pyjamas

Patients in pyjamas – it might sound a little flippant, but I think this is something that is very important.

I cannot comment on the behaviours of other patients outside of the UK – we, in Britain, approach hospital attire in a special way; pyjamas.

I don’t know when pyjamas began in hospital – whether back in medieval times when monks were providing hospitality to travellers; perhaps, those arriving would remove their smocks and don sleeping apparel, or whether this is something that was introduced by Florence Nightingale, Mary Seacole and others, or happened in the 1940’s and 50’s with the birth of the NHS.

From whatever perspective, I can understand people wearing pyjamas when they are asleep – that is what they are for, or even, in the morning perhaps when they have just got-up, but why at other times?

If you look at a standard 21st century hospital inpatient…