Flowers for a patient at Roscommon University Hospital

Roscommon University Hospital (Irish: Ospidéal Ollscoile Ros Comáin) is a general hospital on the N61, just outside Roscommon town in County Roscommon. It is part of the Saolta University Healthcare Group. If you are planning to send flowers to a patient here, the golden rule is to ring the ward first, because we have not been able to read a published policy on flowers for this hospital and each ward decides what it can accept.

About the hospital

The hospital opened in November 1941 as Roscommon County Hospital, with 98 beds for surgical and medical cases as well as special children's and maternity wards. It replaced the infirmary at Abbeytown, which is now the County Library. It became Roscommon University Hospital in November 2015.

One part of its history affects what you send. There has been no maternity department in County Roscommon since the St Anne's maternity ward closed in 1978. If you are sending flowers to celebrate a birth, the mother and baby will normally have been in a maternity unit in another county, so find out which hospital she is in, or wait until she is home.

Ring the ward

Telephone the hospital and ask for the ward. Ask the nurse in charge whether flowers are accepted, whether the patient is in a single room or a bay, and whether visiting is open or restricted at present. Many wards do not accept flowers or plants, particularly where patients are very ill, have allergies or are in isolation. If the ward says yes, add the patient's full name and ward to the order, and write a short message on the card.

The Saolta website publishes visiting arrangements hospital by hospital, so a telephone call is the only reliable way to find out what applies on the day. If the patient is moved between wards, the information on the order may be out of date, so check again before you place it.

Alternatives to a ward delivery

A bouquet sent to the patient's home can be waiting when they return, and it shows you were thinking of them. It also solves the problem of discharge happening earlier than expected. Or send flowers to a relative who has been making the daily trip to the hospital, which in a rural county can be a long drive. A Mass card is another traditional choice, and a card or a book can be sent in with a relative.

County Roscommon covers a large rural area, and patients may come from villages and farms many kilometres away, so the Eircode matters. It identifies a house even when the address is only a townland name. Add a mobile number and a note about the gate or the nearest landmark.

Looking after the family too

A hospital stay affects the whole household. The people who drive to the ward every day, bring in clean clothes and look after the animals at home often get less attention than the patient. A bouquet or a short note to them can be as welcome as anything sent to the ward, and it avoids every question about what the hospital allows.

Writing the message

Keep the message short and warm. Avoid mentioning the illness, and think about whether the patient would prefer a private note. A line such as "looking forward to seeing you home" is cheerful without being heavy. If the flowers are for a family following a bereavement, check the death notice on rip.ie, as many families request family flowers only or ask for donations.

When to order

Choose a delivery date when someone will be there to receive the flowers, ideally a day or two after the patient is expected home. If you are not sure when that will be, ask a relative, or choose a date a few days later. Ward staff are busy, so avoid asking them to arrange vases or to find a safe place for the bouquet.

Did you know? Roscommon University Hospital opened in November 1941 as Roscommon County Hospital, replacing the infirmary at Abbeytown, which is now the County Library.