Hospital could ban flowers due to Health and Safety rules

Visitors could be banned from taking fresh flowers to sick relatives at a Black Country hospital because of health and safety rules.

Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital is proposing a ban on blooms on all wards because of the risk of infection.

Bosses say flower water carries bacteria and needs to be cleaned out regularly and thoroughly to prevent it harbouring bugs.

A report from the Dudley Group of Hospital Trust admits that a proposed ban on flowers is an "emotive" issue.

The report also notes that alternative gifts are being considered.

A proposal to stop visitors bringing flowers to loved ones will be put forward by the Patient and Public Experience Group.

This is made up of trust staff, governors, NHS Dudley and the Local Involvement Network (LINk), of which members of the public are representatives.

Hospital chief executive Paula Clark said: "A proposal will be presented to the Council of Governors to ask visitors not to bring flowers into hospital due to infection control.

"To compensate, the trust along with the patient and public experience group are in the process of looking into alternative gifts that visitors could bring in for patients that are suitable for wards."

Flowers are currently allowed on the majority of wards — provided they are not heavily scented and are kept clear of electrical equipment.

Some such as the Georgina ward, which cares for cancer patients, already ask visitors not to bring flowers in to help with infection prevention and control.

Staff also request flowers are not taken into areas such as the critical care and the surgical high dependency units as there is a large amount of electrical equipment and spilt water could be a risk.

Last May the Express & Star reported how there was confusion over which wards did allow flowers.

After highlighting the issue, the trust installed a notice in the shop in main reception which sells flowers to advise of its policy on plants.