Publish date: 17 November 2025
Our Infection Prevention and Control team doesn’t want to be the Ebenezer Scrooge of Christmas. The team offers support and guidance to help keep our patients, service users, and our staff safe.
Christmas Trees used in our settings should be artificial and only one tree per ward can be dressed and must be in an area of the ward that is away from high footfall. There should be no fresh or dried plants, flowers, grasses etc.
Decorations should not be placed in areas undertaking clinical activity such as treatment rooms. Decorations attract and harbour dust, (which contains skin cells, virus, and bacteria) so they shouldn’t be kept in place for long periods of time. We would respectfully ask that decorations are not put in place in clinical areas until December.
Decorations must not be hung on, or in front of, high touch points, for example, door handles. The use of spray-on fake snow is not permitted.
Christmas trees and many decorations cannot be cleaned. In the event of an outbreak or cases of infection, such as COVID-19, flu or norovirus in an area where Christmas decorations are on display, you may be advised to remove decorations. These decorations must be packed away or disposed of, depending on condition and material, through the appropriate waste stream. Hampers for raffles are acceptable where the items are appropriately packed with a wipeable cover.
If you’d like specific advice, please contact the team on: 0151 295 3036