PATIENTS at a Winchester hospital can relax in the comfort of brand new gowns.

The Royal Hampshire County Hospital, along with the Andover War Memorial Hospital, is phasing out their old, rather revealing, hospital gowns in favour of new modest ones.

Senior nurse Angie McClarren said: "Feedback from patients has shown the old gowns made them feel vulnerable. We know people don't like coming into hospital anyway so we thought if we could make one small change to improve their stay it was worth it."

The new gowns are replacing the standard gowns the hospital has been using for many years.

Director of nursing Kay Riley added: "Ordering new gowns when we are looking to cut costs has not been easy but we simply won't put a small saving before patients' dignity and comfort."

Jackie Lewis models the new gown, left, at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester.