Flowery gift for Groote Schuur patients

Flowery cheer: Colleen Jeftha (public relations and protocol officer, UCT), Martha Petersen (nursing manager, GSH), DVC Prof Thandabantu Nhlapo (UCT), Dr Terence Carter (CEO, GSH) and Dr Bhavna Patel (COO, GSH) show off some of the fresh pickings delivered by UCT to Groote Schuur Hospital.

Spending the silly season cooped up in hospital is no bed of roses. So, doing its bit to brighten the mood, UCT, as it does every year, delivered bakkie-loads of colourful hydrangeas to Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH) on 21 December.

Grateful hospital officials were on hand to accept the cargo of 'Christmas flowers', to go on display in the 42 wards that are currently open in the hospital. Deputy-vice chancellor Professor Thandabantu Nhlapo was on hand to present the bouquets.

It's a tradition that dates back 74 years, and GSH's public relations officer, Alaric Jacobs, says the blossoms help to improve the morale of the sick and poorly. "It lights them up," he says.

The hospital also decorates the wards with some of its own festive flavouring, but the hydrangeas add a unique and welcome dimension. "Flowers have a special meaning," explains Jacobs. "It's not nice to be in a hospital over Christmas. The flowers help to lift spirits a bit."