to expect hospital to accept delivery of flowers for my mum?

I do agree with some of the posts along the lines of the fact that the country has become ridiculous eg the benches are 3 inches the wrong height and the bananas are too curved/not curved enough etc and it is true some people spend their time doing very bizarre things like measuring this kind of thing.

However, we need to do absolutely everything we can to control hospital infections. Even if it saved just one life - that is someone's daughter/son/mother/father etc and it would be worth it.

Your response to this was to phone the local newspaper?

Sorry but for years and years and years flowers have been the gift along with grapes that you take along to the hospital so I don't blame the op at all fornot checking first I wouldn't have thought to either.
I totally agree what a rediculous sorld this has become, signing slips so that nursery can put on a plaster, no flowers in hospitals the list goes on and on really doesn't it.
And as for staff having better things to do with their time I know plenty of people who post get well cards and other things to hospitals for patients what is the difference? Nobody was asking a urse or a dr to go to reception and get them for her.

I don't think you're unreasonable for being upset, especially since having them delivered was expensive and you couldn't get there in person, but I agree with some of the other posters that you never know what the rules are in each hospital and that it's best to check first. My partner's grandmother was in hospital after a bad fall last year and we took her some flowers only to be told they weren't allowed. We weren't that annoyed, but found it rather odd that there's a flower stall/shop in the hospital car park that's probably making a fortune out of visitors who then have to take them back home with them. Still, I had a nice vase of flowers in the kitchen and we took her some more when she got home.

I do feel sorry that your are upset and the flowers were wasted, but I do think you should consider other patients in the hopital. My dad had emergency surgery last year and nearly died - that hospital did not allow flowers and were very careful about spreading infections and thankfully he recovered. I think patient safety is much more important - even if the risk is small - especially given the seriousness of some people's illnesses.

The water which the flowers are in carries harmful bacteria. Flowers have been banned in some places such as Spain for some time for that reason.

Flowers sit on lockers, window ledges and other surfaces and often get in the way if someone needs urgent attention. Many people have reactions to pollen. Nurses or healthcare assistants often have to find vases and refresh the water in order to prevent stagnation.

Dirty hospitals have not been proved to increase infection risk the main culprit is washing hands.

I think hospitals should make their policy on this clear but that it is entirely reasonable to refuse flowers.

Hmm, interesting this seems to be a story about the hospital in question, over a year ago...
So it's hardly a new thing.

Shame to have wasted the flowers, but this is not a new thing. I remember years ago certain wards in our local hospital not allowing flowers.

actually flowers can spread infections- Proteus, for one lives on the water in vases and can make people very ill- they're banned in burns units for that reason.

Lets not bother about the patients with respiratory problems then shall we since as the flowers look so nice.
Who do you think changes the water, washes the vases, looks for vases, throws away the dead flowers. Nurses and staff that should be concentrating on looking after patients.
If you want to look at pretty flowers then go to a garden centre - what on earth do you lot think hospitals are for?
I could be more sympathetic if these establishments were staffed adequately to cope with the work load but they are not. Flowers are so not a priority.

Nurses and hospital staff have better things to do with their time - such as care for your mother - than take deliveries of flowers which can be an infection control problem and set of other pt's allergies.
The average 28 bedded ward has just 3 nurses and perhaps if lucky 2 healthcares to take care of all the pt's including the post op and dying ones, also deal deal with all those pt's relatives plus documentation, referrals to other services and make intake and discharge arrangements so i'm sure you'll agree flowers are pretty low on their priorities.
However i'm sure the local press and uninformed people with ridiculous perceptions of hospitals will have a field day with your complaint.

That's it then, Belgium is where I will be ill in future. Sounds good.

Oh FFS this country! When I was in hospital in Belgium, the hospital provided flowers for the ward. And a fridge. And wine or beer with your meal.

Most hospitals don't accept flowers, my mum tried to send me some but was told not to when she called to check with the ward.

I think I know the hospital you mean and I know they don't accept them as my mum used to work for them, that is why she checked.

I can understand you being pissed off but I think you are being unreasonable not to have checked first, sorry.

The problem may have been with the courier rather than the flowers?

Did you clearly state what ward she was in? The courier probably would only deliver them to a main reception.

When we have flowers delivered, the flower shop delivery person usually takes them directly to the ward area.

I don't think infection risk has anything to do with it TBH

i'm afraid that i think you are being unreasonable too. taking deliveries is not the main concern of hospital staff and there is an increased risk of infection as said numerous times already. people are always quick to complain about hospital acquired infections...
i do think it's a shame your flowers went to waste though.
i hope your mum gets well quickly.

We regularly get flowers delivered BTW - including massive great bloody balloons - now i would ban them!

You'd think that (on wards where the infection risk is low) that would be a job for the nice ladies of the WRVS, especially in hospitals where their teashops have been taken away and replaced by burger bars.

interesting article from 2003

I have to say that I do not think there is any actual evidence that flowers increase infection risk, so I do think it is a bit ridiculous.

Its not the couriers or Nexts fault, they would assume you had checked delivery was ok. Most hospitals dont allow flowers on certain wards now due to infection - not worth the risk to other patients.

It is a shame, but it has been done.
Could you ask someone who is visiting to take some with them and pay that person for the flowers? Much more of a personal touch than a delivery man turning up.

Or find out when may come home and get them delivered then.

and as this is a AIBU thread - yes I think it is unreasonable that you should expect this. It wouldn't have crossed my mind to order flowers and expect them to be delivered to a hospital TBH!

I used to love arranging patient's flowers and the patients loved receiving them. How sad for both your Mother and you. Have you spoken to the ward sister? I agree it is a ridiculous world....Hope your Mother gets better soon. x

I have heard of this before. My sil recently had a baby and they wouldnt allow flowers there either. All do do with infection spreading! Fair enough

yes so ridicuouis isnt it to safeguard other patients.