How can I get something delivered to a hospital? A guide to sending gifts, flowers, and essentials

September 23, 2025 •

5 min read

According to research, positive social interaction and support can significantly improve a patient’s well-being and recovery time. Learning how can I get something delivered to a hospital is a thoughtful way to show you care, but the process requires some careful planning due to specific hospital policies and delivery procedures.

Quick Summary

Successfully sending a delivery to a hospital patient involves first confirming the hospital's specific visitation and gift policies, and then gathering the patient's full name, hospital name, and room number. Packages are typically delivered to a central mailroom or reception desk before being transferred by hospital staff to the patient's room, so knowing what items are restricted and using a local delivery service familiar with hospital protocols can help ensure your gift arrives without issue.

Key Points

Check hospital policies: Always call the hospital's main line to inquire about specific delivery restrictions and protocols before sending anything.
Confirm patient details: Ensure you have the patient's full, legally registered name and, if possible, their room or unit number for accurate delivery.
Choose the right service: Opt for a hospital gift shop for the fastest in-house delivery, or use external vendors with a clear understanding that delivery will be to the hospital mailroom only.
Avoid restricted items: Common hospital bans include fresh flowers, plants, strongly scented products, and latex balloons due to allergy and infection risks.
Consider alternative gifts: If hospital rules are too restrictive, consider alternatives like digital gift cards for food delivery after discharge or a heartfelt video message.

Navigating hospital delivery procedures

Sending a gift or essential item to a hospital patient can be a kind and meaningful gesture. However, the process is not as simple as sending a package to a home address. Hospitals have strict policies to protect patient privacy and safety. To ensure your delivery is successful, it's crucial to understand these rules and prepare accordingly. From specific gift restrictions to the internal delivery process, careful planning is the key to a smooth transaction that puts a smile on your loved one's face.

Before you order: The essential research phase

Your first and most important step is to call the hospital's main information desk or patient services department. This is a critical pre-order check to confirm their specific rules and requirements. Different units, such as Intensive Care (ICU), neonatal, or oncology, often have stricter rules about what is allowed.

Here's what to ask:

Allowed items: Confirm if flowers, plants, certain foods, or scented products are permitted.
Delivery process: Ask about the standard procedure for outside deliveries.
Required information: Find out what details, such as the patient's full name, room number, or admission name, are necessary for a successful delivery.
Special circumstances: Inquire about any temporary restrictions, such as those related to infection control, that could affect your delivery.

Gather the necessary recipient information

For a smooth delivery, accuracy is paramount. You will need the following information for your order:

Patient's full name: Use the name the patient is registered under, which may be their legal name rather than a nickname.
Hospital's full name and address: Include the complete address of the hospital.
Patient's room number or unit: If the room number is unknown, providing the unit (e.g., Maternity, Cardiac) can help hospital staff direct the delivery more efficiently.
Confirmation of patient status: For hospital gift shop services, you may need to confirm the patient is still admitted. This is especially important for food or flowers, as a gift arriving on the day of discharge could be missed.

Delivery options for hospital gifts

Once you have confirmed the hospital's policies, you can select the best method for delivery.

Hospital gift shop: Many hospitals operate their own gift shops that offer same-day delivery directly to a patient's room.

Pros: Staff are already familiar with hospital policies and can deliver directly to the room, bypassing the central mailroom delay.
Cons: Selection may be limited compared to external vendors.

External delivery services: Services like florists, gift basket companies, and some food services can deliver to the hospital's mailroom or reception desk.

Pros: Wider variety of gifts and often a more personalized touch.
Cons: The package is delivered to the mailroom, and hospital staff are then responsible for transporting it to the patient, which can cause significant delays.

Personal delivery: If you are able to visit, bringing the item yourself is often the most direct and reliable option.

Pros: Ensures the item gets to the patient quickly and allows for a personal visit.
Cons: Restricted visiting hours and specific ward limitations can be a factor.

What to send: A comparison of gift options

Choosing the right gift for someone in the hospital requires careful consideration of their condition, hospital rules, and practical needs.


Gift Category	Pros	Cons	Consideration
Flowers & Plants	Brightens the room, cheerful	Often banned in ICUs or other wards due to infection risk, strong scents can bother patients	Choose hypoallergenic, unscented, and compact arrangements; confirm hospital policy first.
Food & Snacks	A welcome change from hospital food, comforting	Strict dietary restrictions are common; perishable items can spoil in mailroom delays	Call the nutrition services department; opt for non-perishable snacks or gift cards for takeout after discharge.
Books, Puzzles & Magazines	Provides a distraction and helps pass the time	May require significant concentration, which some patients might lack	Choose large-print books or light, easy-to-read content; consider puzzle difficulty.
Comfort Items (Blanket, Socks)	Provides physical comfort and a touch of home	Bulky items can take up limited space in a hospital room	Opt for a soft, compact throw blanket or non-slip socks; avoid heavily scented fabrics.
Personal Care Kit (Unscented)	Helps the patient feel refreshed and clean	Many scented products are restricted due to sensitivities	Pack a small bag with travel-sized, unscented lotions, lip balm, and dry shampoo.

Additional tips for a successful delivery

Ship to the home instead: If the patient's stay is short, or if you are sending a perishable item, consider sending the gift to their home address with a note explaining that you are thinking of them now.
Consider a gift card: A gift card for a local restaurant, coffee shop, or delivery service like DoorDash can be used after discharge and is easy to store.
Send a virtual delivery: An e-gift card for a streaming service or an online message from friends and family can be a wonderful, low-risk alternative.
Communicate with family: Talk to the patient’s family to coordinate deliveries and ensure you are not sending something they already have or cannot use.

Frequently restricted items

To avoid disappointment, be aware of items that are commonly restricted in hospitals:

Scented products: Strong fragrances from flowers, perfumes, and lotions can cause allergic reactions in sensitive patients and staff.
Fresh plants and flowers: The soil in potted plants and the water in vases can harbor mold and bacteria, posing an infection risk, especially to immunocompromised patients.
Latex balloons: These are often banned due to latex allergies.
Perishable food items: Due to delivery delays and patient dietary restrictions, fresh food is often discouraged.

Conclusion

Sending a gift or care package to a hospital patient is a thoughtful way to boost their spirits, but requires navigating hospital-specific rules to ensure it arrives safely. By conducting some initial research, gathering accurate information, and choosing a delivery method and gift that aligns with the hospital's policies, you can ensure your gesture of care is successfully received. Remembering that the effort and thought behind your gift is what truly matters can help guide your choice. For more information on patient health and recovery, refer to reliable sources such as the National Institutes of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but with significant caution. Many hospitals have strict dietary rules for patients, and some may not permit outside food. You must first call the hospital to confirm their policy and the patient’s dietary restrictions. Sending a gift card for a food delivery service for when they return home is a safer, often more appreciated alternative.

Typically, no. Most external delivery services, including florists, are required to drop off packages at the hospital's central mailroom or reception desk. Hospital staff or volunteers are then responsible for taking the flowers to the patient's room, which can cause delays. For quicker delivery, check if the hospital has an on-site gift shop.

Due to strict infection control policies, most ICUs do not allow flowers, plants, or outside food. The best options are often non-physical items, such as a heartfelt card or a digital message. If the patient is able, audiobooks or a digital gift card for a streaming service could also be appreciated.

To ensure a delivery arrives, provide the patient's full name (as registered), the hospital's complete address, and, if you know it, their room or unit number. Always confirm with the delivery company that they understand they are delivering to a hospital and not a residential address.

If a patient is discharged before a delivery arrives, the package may be held at the hospital for a period before being returned to the sender. This is a common issue with perishable items like flowers or food. If you are ordering through a hospital gift shop, they may be able to reroute the delivery to the patient's home.

Yes, but you should still check hospital policy first. Avoid including fresh or unwrapped foods, strongly scented items, or anything that could pose an infection risk. Fill it with practical, comforting items like unscented lotions, non-slip socks, or puzzle books.

In many cases, yes. Potted plants and fresh flowers are frequently banned in hospital units, particularly those with immunocompromised patients (e.g., oncology, ICU). The soil and standing water can harbor bacteria and mold. It is always safer to check with the hospital beforehand.