The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in Shropshire said fresh cut flowers increased the chances of patients being struck down with a bacterium called pseudomonas. The bug develops in the flowers' water when vegetation rots and is particularly active in hot weather. The bug can cause patients' wounds to produce a bluish-green pus. Hospital bosses said visitors to the surgical ward are being encouraged not to bring fresh flowers and the decision was taken last week during the hot spell. A hospital spokesman said the directive only applied to patients on the surgical ward and laminated signs had been put up urging visitors to bring alternative presents.
Visitors can bring flowers to other parts of the hospital.
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