HOSPITALS and care homes across Dorset have been told to take down their Christmas decorations by Infection Control due to fears of spread the Covid-19 virus.

All hospital departments and some care homes in Dorset, including children's wards and specialist eating disorder units, have been advised to remove festive as the NHS are concerned about people touching and pulling down the decorations.

These include decorations including artificial trees, tinsel or baubles, as well as both shop bought and handmade decorations made by residents at the hospitals.

A Dorset HealthCare spokesperson said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has affected so many parts of our lives this year, and Christmas is no exception.

“While we want to ensure everyone using our services can enjoy the festive period, we need to do all we can to keep people safe and protected.

“As a result, we have made some changes to the way our hospital and inpatient sites are decorated, to uphold the necessary high standards of infection prevention and control.

Although all decorative items which are not easily wipeable have been removed, Dorset HealthCare ensure that festive ornaments remain at their sites, with Christmas trees positions outside and laminated windows decorations inside.

The spokesperson from Dorset HealthCare added: “Unfortunately, we are not allowing artificial trees, tinsel or baubles inside our buildings as they are not cleanable.

“However, Christmas trees have been put up in our outside areas, so that staff and patients can see them from a window, and we have also provided laminated window sticker decorations that are wipeable, washable and cleanable.

“Activities will be taking place for patients at all our inpatient sites to ensure the festive season can still be celebrated and enjoyed by everyone.”

Care Campaign for the Vulnerable, a national not-for profit-organisation influencing better safety and care of elderly and dementia, has revealed it has received “distraught messages from care home managers” due to the ban.

A spokeswoman for Care Campaign for the Vulnerable said: “'I find this downright appalling.

“As if residents haven't lost enough this year already. Why deprive them of the joy of Christmas?”