Fresh flowers will be banned from wards in the midwest's main regional hospital from today in a move to improve hygiene.
The Mid Western Regional Hospital in Dooradoyle, Limerick, has introduced the infection control measure as it is believed the water in vases could harbour harmful bacteria.
The move follows a national hygiene audit published last November in which the hospital scored 65 per cent, which is officially designated a poor result.
"Since then a vigorous campaign has been under way to improve all-round hygiene among staff, visitors and patients with increased emphasis on hand hygiene and general waste management. The ban on fresh flowers is an infection control measure which is now commonplace in many acute hospitals," the hospital said.
The hospital is now waiting for the results of the latest audit.
Many hospitals in the UK have banned cut flowers in surgical wards. Officials from NHS trusts have said the water could harbour bacteria and it could be dangerous to have large vessels of water next to electronic monitoring equipment beside beds.
The Limerick hospital is also introducing new policies on smoking today.
The hospital said a previous policy of a total smoking ban introduced seven years ago was unsuccessful and smoking areas have now been designated.
Three outdoor smoking shelters have been erected, two in the vicinity of the hospital canteen and one near the laboratory. A fourth is proposed for the front of the hospital complex and planning permission is being sought for a steel and glass structure which will be located near the main entrance.
A new car-parking system will also come into effect. A card access system for staff car parking began on April 3rd and new public car-parking arrangements will come into force on May 1st. Fees for public parking, at present a flat rate of €1.20 irrespective of duration, will increase to €1 per hour.
"We recognise we have certain categories of patients, for example oncology and dialysis, who may have to park in the hospital for a number of hours and the current arrangements to cater for their parking requirements will continue," the hospital said.