Flowers to a patient at Rockingham General Hospital

Rockingham General Hospital is the public hospital for Rockingham, Kwinana and the coast south of Perth, run by the South Metropolitan Health Service as part of the Rockingham Peel Group. Its street address is Elanora Drive, Cooloongup WA 6168, just inland from Rockingham's town centre and about 45 kilometres from the Perth CBD. It has around 229 beds and an emergency department, medical, surgical and paediatric wards, maternity, intensive care, chemotherapy, rehabilitation for older people and an inpatient mental health unit. Florists in Rockingham, Baldivis and Kwinana deliver there every day of the working week.

Visiting times at Rockingham General

The hospital sets two visiting windows for most wards: 8am to 1pm and 3pm to 8pm. The break in the early afternoon is for rest and treatment, and visitors are expected to leave. Visiting times vary in some areas, notably intensive care and mental health, and the hospital asks you to check with staff before you come. Florists deliver during business hours and leave the bouquet with the ward clerk rather than carrying it to the bed, so the flowers often arrive while the patient is resting and are waiting when visitors return at three.

The one rule Rockingham publishes: no latex balloons

Rockingham General does not publish a flower policy, but it does publish a balloon rule, and it is strict: latex balloons are not permitted anywhere on the hospital site, because some patients and staff have severe anaphylactic reactions to latex. If you were thinking of a get-well balloon with the bouquet, ask for foil only or leave it out. The grounds, car parks and vehicles are also smoke and vape free. For flowers themselves, follow the normal Australian pattern: no flowers or plants in intensive care, none for patients on chemotherapy or with low immunity, and ask the maternity ward before sending anything scented near newborns.

Maternity, children and mental health

Three units need a word. The maternity ward welcomes small, low-scent arrangements for new mothers, and the florist can add a baby card; keep it compact, because the rooms are shared with a cot and visitors. The paediatric ward usually prefers a soft toy or book to flowers, and families are often there all day. The mental health unit may not permit glass or ceramic vases, so a hand-tied bouquet or a plastic container is the safe choice, and staff may hold the delivery until a nurse checks it. In every case the switchboard, 9599 4000, puts you through to the ward.

What the florist needs

The patient's full name as admitted, the ward, and a room or bed number if known. Give your own mobile number; the florist calls you, not the patient, if the ward refuses the bouquet or the patient has been discharged. Rockingham stays after planned surgery are short, so if discharge is close, the home address in Rockingham, Safety Bay, Port Kennedy or Baldivis is often the better destination. Mandurah is a separate hospital 40 kilometres further south; make sure you have the right one.

Ordering in Perth time

Order before 2pm on a weekday or 10am on a Saturday, Western Australian time, and a Rockingham florist can deliver the same day, Monday to Saturday. To a hospital, same day is never guaranteed, since the ward decides when a bouquet is accepted. From the eastern states, remember the two or three hour time difference works in your favour. Bouquets start at around AUD 75; the delivery fee is shown at checkout.

Did you know? Rockingham General Hospital is a public hospital of about 229 beds run by the South Metropolitan Health Service, with an emergency department, maternity, intensive care and an inpatient mental health unit on its Elanora Drive site.