A NURSING home in York has become the first to use a new type of bed linen which improves skin care for patients.

Fulford Nursing Home is the first in the country which has adopted DermaTherapy Advanced Therapeutic bed linen throughout the facility.

The new linen was developed in the USA and scientifically designed to prevent and help heal skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis and pressure ulcers, and has been shown to improve comfort for patients with Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and those undergoing chemotherapy.

The linen is made from a special fabric which pulls away excess moisture from the body, reduces friction, and has an antimicrobial agent within the fabric that helps to prevent infections.

Donna Crockford, manager of the home, said: "After five months of extensive evaluation of DermaTherapy in our home, during which we continually reviewed the effectiveness of the product on the quality of care and the comfort of our residents, we decided it was the right decision."