A nice bouquet and a bag of grapes have been almost mandatory hospital gifts for years; some healthy fresh fruit and a bunch of flowers to brighten the place up, lift the mood and give ailing friends or family something beautiful to look at.
So it might seem a little odd that flowers are now banned from many hospital wards around the country. The reason? The fear that vases of flowers by the bedside might pose a health risk and impact on nursing.
Health chiefs first clamped down on flowers when it was revealed that the water could harbour high levels of bacteria (although perhaps a simple sign notifying patients to only put their flowers in the water rather than drink it might have been more appropriate).
Other concerns cited were the increased health and safety hazard of a vase placed at the patients’ bedside and around medical equipment, plus the extra workload placed on nurses having to tend the flowers and clean around them.
However, since the wave of flower banning hit wards across the UK it has emerged that not a single case of hospital infection has ever been linked to bedside flowers. In fact, the latest research seems to suggest what most of us probably suspected all along – that not only do they pose no danger, the presence of flowers can actually help improve a patient’s health.
Recent studies indicate that having flowers around has a positive effect on mood, speeding patient recovery. Another trial found that patients with flowers in their rooms needed fewer painkillers after an operation, less anxiety and fatigue, and lower blood pressure.
Not every hospital enforces a prohibition on flowers, and some only bar them from certain wards, but given the huge health and morale benefits flowers can bring – combined with evidence they are no more problematic than having food and drink at patient bedsides – it’s surely time for a rethink where they are barred.
As with the ban on mobile phones in most hospitals, research overwhelmingly says there is little good reason not to allow flowers on our wards. In fact, with all the health benefits you could argue that they should come free on the NHS.
