Infection rules spoiling visits for families, says GP

Dozens of hospitals have told doctors, friends and family not to sit on beds in a bid to stop the spread of infections like MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C diff).

Others have banned visitors from taking bouquets of flowers to their sick relatives for the same reason. Yet such moves only make hospital more frightening places and stop patients enjoying any home comforts, a doctor said.

Writing in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), Dr Iona Heath, a GP from London, said that there was "no hard evidence" that banning either flowers or sitting on beds prevented the spread of infections.

He said it was more a case of hospitals wanting to be seen to be taking action.