Christmas tinsel ban at hospital

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/hampshire/7070358.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A Hampshire hospital has banned Christmas decorations from wards in a bid to tackle infections.

The Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester has been trying to reduce MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infections.

There were 13 cases of MRSA infections between April 2006 and March 2007 compared with its target of 12.

"This isn't about cancelling Christmas. It's about banishing the bugs," said a spokesperson for the hospital trust.

There were also 191 cases of Clostridium difficile at the hospital between April 2006 and March 2007.

We are lining up lots of treats for our patients to make up for not having decorations on the wards Martin Wakeley, Winchester and Eastleigh NHS Healthcare Trust

Winchester and Eastleigh NHS Healthcare Trust will allow decorations in general areas, such as the front desk.

Martin Wakeley, chief executive of the trust, insisted that patients would not have a miserable Christmas and bosses are planning their own "Twelve Days of Christmas" to bring some festive cheer between 14 December and 25 December.

He said: "We are lining up lots of treats for our patients to make up for not having decorations on the wards.

"We've already had offers of handmade chocolates and luxurious Christmas cakes from top hotels and we're inviting the local panto dame and cast to come in too as well as choristers and carol singers.

"We know that no-one really wants to be in hospital for Christmas so we hope to make it as pleasant as possible."