STAFF donned their pyjamas to go to work at a North Yorkshire Hospital as part of moves to improve care for patients.

Occupational Therapy staff at Harrogate District Hospital were playing their part in an international scheme to end PJ paralysis and encourage patients to get up and wear day clothes while in hospital.

The idea is that it helps encourage independence and enhances dignity for patients if they are dressed in everyday clothes rather than bed clothes. It can also mean they spend less time in hospital.

So as part of Occupational Therapy Week staff at Harrogate District Hospital decided to put on their pyjamas for work and support patients to do the opposite and swap theirs for everyday clothes.

Emma Havercroft, Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy said: "We are delighted to be supporting the End PJ Paralysis campaign as part of Occupational Therapy Week 2018. It is great that so many of our occupational therapy colleagues are supporting the initiative and donning their own pyjamas to raise awareness.

"This gives us the chance to showcase our profession and the work that we do as occupational therapists at the Trust, as the support and care we give can make a real difference to patients."

Occupational therapists work with people of all ages helping them overcome the effects of illness, injury, disability or accidents to lead as full and satisfying lives as independently as possible.

The End PJ Paralysis movement is a global campaign encouraging patients to get out of bed and swap pyjamas and hospital gowns for everyday clothes to improve mobility and state of mind.