Pests plague at hospitals
Shropshire's two main hospitals are being plagued by rodents and insects, with 250 incidents of pest infestation being reported in the last two years, figures revealed today. Shropshire's two main hospitals are being plagued by rodents and insects, with 250 incidents of pest infestation being reported in the last two years, figures revealed today. This included wasps in the neo-natal unit, flying ants on the wards and mosquitoes in the endoscopy department. The details were obtained by the Tories under the Freedom of Information Act. Pest controllers were called out by the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust, which runs the Royal Shrewsbury and Princess Royal, between January 2006 and April 2008. Infestations included outbreaks of rats, maggots, cockroaches, ants, biting insects, fleas, wasps, flies, bird mites, silverfish, bed bugs, woodlice and beetles. Pigeons also caused problems. Trish Rowson, the trust's director of service delivery, said: "It is unfortunately inevitable that when you are responsible for large buildings like hospitals and their extensive grounds you will face problems with pests. "This is why we have a contract with a pest control company to help us ensure that these issues are managed effectively in our buildings and grounds." Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Shropshire's two main hospitals are being plagued by rodents and insects, with 250 incidents of pest infestation being reported in the last two years, figures revealed today.This included wasps in the neo-natal unit, flying ants on the wards and mosquitoes in the endoscopy department. The details were obtained and released by the Tories under the Freedom of Information Act.
Pest controllers were called out by the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust, which runs the Royal Shrewsbury and Princess Royal, between January 2006 and April 2008.
Infestations included outbreaks of rats, maggots, cockroaches, ants, biting insects, fleas, wasps, flies, bird mites, silverfish, bed bugs, woodlice and beetles. Pigeons also caused problems.
But Trish Rowson, the trust's director of service delivery, said: "It is unfortunately inevitable that when you are responsible for large buildings like hospitals and their extensive grounds you will face problems with pests.
"Since our role is to provide patient care, it is important that we investigate and act quickly.
"This is why we have a contract with a pest control company to help us ensure that these issues are managed effectively in our buildings and grounds.
"Their role includes routine visits to make sure that control arrangements are working well, and call-out visits so that issues can be addressed quickly before they cause problems for patients and staff."
The Tories contacted 171 NHS trusts, of which 127 responded, almost all of which said they had experienced problems, with pest controllers called out to wipe out about 20,000 infestations, many in clinical areas.
Examples from around the UK included one horrified patient waking-up to find maggots in her slippers, rats being found in a maternity unit and a store for sterile materials infested with mice.
Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Labour have said . . . that they will improve cleanliness in our hospitals but these figures clearly show that they are failing."
A spokesman from the Patients Association said the findings were "truly revolting".
By Dave Morris and Sunita Patel
