Flowers for patients at Sligo University Hospital

The hospital and its history

Sligo University Hospital (Ospidéal Ollscoile Shligigh in Irish) is an acute general hospital in Sligo, managed by the Saolta University Health Care Group. Its roots lie in Sligo County Hospital, which was built on the Mall in Sligo and opened in 1940. A major extension was officially opened by Erskine Childers, then Tánaiste, in March 1971. The hospital changed its name from Sligo General Hospital to Sligo University Hospital in November 2015, so older family members may still call it Sligo General.

That double name matters when you order. Some people search for flowers using the old name, so the order should state the full name of the patient, the ward and the hospital, and it is wise to add Sligo as the town.

Check the ward's rules

Hospital wards set their own rules. Some are happy to see a small bunch on a locker, while others ask visitors not to bring flowers because of infection control, space or the needs of other patients. Intensive care and some specialist units usually do not take them. Telephone the ward and ask the nurse in charge what is allowed that day.

If the ward says no, think about a get-well card, a puzzle book, a magazine or a small gift. If the stay is expected to be short, you can also keep the flowers for the patient's return home.

What to include on the order

The details that matter most are the patient's full legal name and the ward. Add a short message and your name on the card. If the patient may be discharged soon, say so and choose a delivery date that fits. If they are moved to another ward, update the order or ring the florist as soon as you know.

Do not put private medical details on a card. Keep it simple, such as "Thinking of you, we hope you are home soon." The card can be seen by other patients and visitors on the ward.

Choosing flowers for a bedside

Hospital lockers are small. A compact bouquet in a low vase is easier to place than a tall arrangement. Pick flowers that hold up in warm rooms, such as carnations, chrysanthemums, alstroemeria and gerberas. Avoid strongly scented flowers, because patients can be sensitive to fragrance. Bright colours lift the mood in a plain room, and yellow, coral and soft pink are always popular.

Visitors travelling to Sligo

Patients at Sligo University Hospital come from all over the north-west, and visiting can mean long drives. A delivered bouquet is a way to take part when the journey is too far. If you cannot visit, pair the flowers with a phone call to the family so you know when the patient is likely to go home.

When someone has been in hospital for a long time, regular small gestures help more than one big one. A bunch of flowers every week or two, a postcard, or a text message the family can read aloud can all mean a lot.

After discharge

The days after a hospital stay can be tiring, and many people find flowers more welcome once they are home with a vase of their own. Choose a delivery date a few days after the patient returns and add a note offering practical help. A lift to a follow-up appointment or a few meals in the freezer often matters as much as the flowers.

Sympathy and other occasions

Sligo is the largest town in the north-west, and families travel in from the surrounding counties for hospital appointments, so a delivered gift often carries extra meaning when relatives live far away.

If a hospital stay ends in a bereavement, Irish funeral customs apply. The death notice on rip.ie will say whether the family would like flowers or prefer donations. Where it says "family flowers only", send a Mass card or a donation instead. A short card with a warm line is always appropriate.

Did you know? Sligo University Hospital opened as Sligo County Hospital on the Mall in 1940 and took its present name in November 2015.