Flowers for a patient at Mallow General Hospital

Mallow General Hospital (Irish: Ospidéal Ginearálta Mhala) is a public hospital in Mallow, County Cork. It has 81 beds, of which 76 are inpatient acute beds and five are reserved for acute day cases. That makes it a small hospital. Before sending flowers to anyone here, ring the ward, because we have not been able to read a published flowers policy for this hospital and each ward decides what it can accept.

A hospital with a long history

The hospital began as the Mallow Union Workhouse and Infirmary, designed by George Wilkinson and opened in 1841. After the founding of the Irish Free State the infirmary became a district hospital, and over time it developed into Mallow General Hospital. The administration block was rebuilt in 1936.

Ring the ward first

Whatever the hospital, the first step is always the same: telephone the ward and ask the nurse in charge whether flowers can be received. Many wards ask visitors not to bring flowers or plants, particularly where patients are on oxygen, have allergies or are being nursed in isolation. Intensive and high-dependency areas rarely take them at all. Ask also whether a vase can be provided, whether visiting is open to everyone or limited to close family, and whether it is better to wait until the patient is moved to a general ward.

If the ward says yes, give the patient's full name and the name of the ward on the order, and write a short message. If the answer is no, you can still send something kind. A bouquet can be delivered to the patient's home so that it is waiting on their return, or to the family, who may be spending long hours at the hospital and at home.

Things to send other than flowers

Many patients appreciate a card, a book, a puzzle, or something to read, as long as the ward allows it. A Mass card is a traditional Irish gift that can be sent by post to the patient's home, with no need to go through the ward. If the patient is a child or an older person who cannot easily read, a short phone call at a visiting time may mean as much as any gift.

Fresh flowers can still play a role in a different setting: a bouquet to the carer who has been visiting every day, to a neighbour who has been feeding the cat, or to the staff room of a local community group is a good way to say thank you.

If you are not sure who to ask

Switchboard staff can usually put you through to the right ward, but they cannot always share a patient's whereabouts for privacy reasons. If you are not a close relative, the simplest route is to ask the family. They will know which ward the patient is on, whether visitors are welcome and what the patient would enjoy. Pass on your good wishes through them if the patient is not yet up to messages.

Planning around a hospital stay

Hospital stays are often shorter than they used to be, so a bouquet sent to a ward may arrive after the patient has gone home. If you are unsure, ask a relative when discharge is expected, and choose a delivery date for the home address that follows it. A bouquet that arrives the day after discharge can lift the spirits at a time when the patient is tired and the house is quiet.

When you enter the delivery address, give the Eircode, the house number and a mobile number, and say whether a neighbour can accept the flowers. Keep the message short, warm and clear, and avoid stating a diagnosis on the card.

About Mallow

The hospital is in Mallow, County Cork. If you are travelling from Cork city or further, check the visiting times by telephone before the journey. A few words from someone who cares, delivered on the right day, matter more than the size of the bouquet.

Did you know? Mallow General Hospital began in 1841 as the Mallow Union Workhouse and Infirmary, designed by George Wilkinson.