Tories Reveal Pest Infestation In NHS Trusts

Almost 70% of NHS hospitals have brought in pest controllers at least 50 times in a two-year time period.

Figures released by the Conservatives show that there has been almost 20,000 incidents of pest infestation in hospitals.

The shocking figures - obtained by the Tories under the Freedom of Information Act - asked 171 NHS trusts in England to reveal how often pest controllers had visited them.

Of the hospitals that responded, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust lead the table with more than 1,000 incidents, and five other trusts passed the 800 mark.

East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust had the least incidents at 416.

The report claimed that vermin were found in wards, clinics and even operating theatres.

While most infestations reportedly involved non-clinical areas, some Trusts reported problems nearer to patients.

One had wasps in a neo-natal unit, and flying ants on the main wards, while another reported rats in their maternity unit.

A children's A&E ward was infested with flies and some main wards had resident mice, silverfish, biting insects and beetles.

A patient's group said the situation was "revolting" while health chiefs have played down fears that the infestations could lead to disease.

A spokesperson for the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said "in most countries with good standards of healthcare," the possibility for insects or pests to transmit infections in hospitals "would be very remote".

Vanessa Bourne of the Patients Association said however that "these findings reveal what happens when money is taken away from where patients expect to see it spent".

"If these hospitals were restaurants they would be closed down and out of business," she said.

Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Labour have said over and over again that they will improve cleanliness in our hospitals but these figures clearly show that they are failing."

The Healthcare Commission, which is responsible for monitoring hygiene in the NHS, said it had received "negligible" numbers of reports about the threat posed by the vermin.

Christine Braithwaite, who is leading the Commission's healthcare infection programme also said "it may be necessary to take action against pests in these large public buildings from time to time".

The Commission said it would use the information to inform its hospital inspection programme.

Ivan Lewis, the Health Minister said it was up to NHS trusts to ensure hospitals were "clean and safe" for their patients.

(DS/JM)