Vermin problem in Ayrshire Hospitals

Oct 16 2009 by Lisa Boyle

BEASTLY

RATS, mice and cockroaches are among vermin found lurking in Ayrshire hospitals.

Pest control experts have been called out 336 times in just a year to exterminate germ-riddled beasties.

And the record is among the worst in Scotland, with only Glasgow and Tayside health board areas reporting a bigger problem.

Ants, silverfish, flies and scores of other insects are also among the pests found inside and outside buildings.

Ayr Hospital’s station 15 – which cares for cancer patients – reported a terrible stench in a treatment room. Exterminators later blamed the problem on a dead rat.

A second rat was found in the same station later the same month, with mice and ants also discovered.

At Prestwick’s Biggart Hospital, mice were found at the front reception, in corridors and in the Lindsay ward.

And at Crosshouse and Irvine Central pest control experts also visited dozens of times over the year.

The news has stunned MSP Cathy Jamieson. She said: “I’m shocked by these figures and I am sure patients and their families will be too.

“When someone goes into hospital they have a right to expect that they will be treated in clean and safe conditions.

“I am also very concerned that the problem in Ayrshire and Arran seem to be comparatively quite large.

“Our hospitals must be properly maintained and made fit for purpose. How can we have confidence that ministers will succeed in eradicating hospital super bugs such as C.diff when they can’t deal effectively with bugs and rodents?”

A spokesperson for Ayrshire and Arran Health Board said: “Over the past year almost two thirds of call-outs for pest control were to deal with reports of ants.

“The second highest reason for a call-out was to deal with a wasps’ nest.

“We encourage our staff to report any suspected infestations, no matter how minor, as early as possible so that we can deal with them promptly and prevent them becoming more serious.”

And she insists that there are a range of procedures in place to reduce the risk of pest infestations.

She added: “All staff know who is responsible for pest control, domestic services managers have training in pest control and can identify pests and their habitats, staff who work outside – for example, gardening and waste management staff – are trained to recognise and report signs of infestation, good housekeeping and cleaning, all domestic and catering staff have food hygiene training and all food is stored in rodent-proof containers and waste is disposed of safely in pest-proof containers.”