A hospital is swapping traditional blankets and sheets for duvets in a bid to down on infections.

The duvets will be making an appearance on wards in Worthing Hospital and Southlands Hospital in Shoreham from next month.

Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust decided to make the change after trials proved the duvets were popular with patients and staff.

Using duvets means it takes less time to change beds so nurses can spend more time caring for patients.

The change will also mean a reduction in the trust's laundry bills and bed linen replacement costs and could save it around £108,000 a year.

The duvets were first tried out on Worthing Hospital's Buckingham ward.

Ward team manager Linda Naftel said: "We've been spending less time changing bed linen since we've had the duvets and patients like them because they are lighter than the sheets and blankets we used before.

"Visitors commented on how nice the ward looked and the patients said they felt warm and secure under the duvets. One even said she wanted to take it home with her."

The duvets are coated with a substance which makes them easy to wipe clean.

Trust clinical specialist Emma Cox said: "The reaction to them has been very positive.

"Staff no longer have to worry about blankets and getting the corners right when making the beds and it changes the whole appearance of the ward.

"The patients said they feel less restricted and the duvets were much more lighter than blankets which they liked.

"They are still warm and comfortable but they are much thinner and easier to manage. It also helps improve the appearance of the ward because there are no blankets about."

The duvets are becoming increasingly popular in hospitals with the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton another one to use them.

The changes will start from December 10.

The hospital is currently experiencing an outbreak of the winter vomiting disease among some of its patients and has had to shut five wards to new patients.

Staff have stepped up their infection control measures and are urging people in the community who may have contracted the sickness and diarrhoea bug recently not to visit until at least 48 hours after their symptoms have cleared.

Have you been in hospital and experienced the duvets? Did you think they were better than blankets and sheets? Tell us your thoughts below.

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