Ludlow Hospital called pest control over ant issue
Ludlow Hospital is on a list of those that have had to call in pest control, according to national figures on hospital infestations.
Managers at the community hospital in Gravel Hill reported an "ant infestation in the maternity unit, near to babies". However, NHS bosses in Shropshire say the problem was two years ago and was dealt with swiftly, with no further problems.
The incident has come to light after Freedom of Information request that revealed the NHS is calling out pest control an average of 19 times a day across the country.
Ludlow's problem was minor compared to others which reported cockroaches, rats, mice, bed bugs, fleas and more ants – many of which were in clinical areas or on hospital wards.
The report revealed that hospitals in England called out pest control experts no fewer than 7,026 times in 2013/14 – almost 600 times a month.
The situation has deteriorated over the past five years in many of the 107 trusts which provided full figures, with the number of calls to pest controllers increasing in 42 trusts, while only improving in 27.
At Ludlow Hospital, patients were not in any danger of being bitten by ants, according to an NHS spokesman.
Andy Rogers, speaking for Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust which oversees Ludlow Hospital, said: "In April 2013 a pest control service was used to clear some ants from the maternity unit at Ludlow Hospital."
David Burrows, speaking for Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust which runs the maternity unit there, added: "Further to that, I can confirm that the ants were discovered in a non-patient area."
