Pest control problems question hospital hygiene

Infestations of rats, wasps and maggots have been reported by hospital trusts in England and Wales over the last two years. These figures include rats in maternity units and maggots in neonatal units.

Statistics released under a Freedom of Information request showed pest controllers were called out to NHS Trust hospitals in the Westcountry almost 350 times in two years.

It followed exclusive revelations by westcountry paper the western moring news in June which showed maggots had been found in the mortuary at North Devon District Hospital.

Last night the Conservatives demanded ministers explain how the incidents have happened.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health warned the pest problem will "only get worse" unless a single Government department is put in charge of tackling the issue.

But hospital trusts defended their record. Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Trust called in pest control 145 times between January 2006 and April 2008 to deal with rats, mice, ants, biting insects, flies, pigeons and woodlice.
However a spokesman for the hospital said it "strongly refuted" any suggestion it had a pest problem.
He said that "at no time has the safety or health of our patients, visitors or staff been compromised.

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