n April 2016, a report surfaced that postnatal patients from the Maple Ward in Birmingham Heartlands Hospital had to be evacuated after an invasion by mice. Further investigation in this hospital, in particular, reveals that over the last 5 years it has spent over £100,000 on pest control. As part of this, it was found that staff had to make over 700 call-outs.
A review of records that have been released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), makes for very some disturbing reading. At least 7,000 call-outs were made by England’s hospitals in 2013 and 2014 to deal with vermin, as NHS hospitals made hundreds of calls monthly for help to eliminate pests such as cockroaches, rats, and ants. Evidence of unhealthy hospital environments is even more distressing, with the information that over 2,000 cleaners have lost their employment since 2011. The number of cleaners has reduced from 41,000 in 2011/12 to less than 39,000.
Cleanliness is a constant challenge in medical facilities because of the visible threat of deadly infections to patients, staff, visitors and its’ spread to the wider community.
The problem is exacerbated by the size of hospitals and by virtue of the fact that they are always open. There are also numerous entrances for pests to gain access (either through doors and windows or just small cracks in what is often an aging building) and a large amount of rubbish generated.
Ants, flies and rats were reported to be causing problems for all the hospitals and medical facilities found in NHS Tayside. However, their spending on pest control reduced from £40,000 in 2014, to £16,000 in 2015. Other instances include West Sussex’s Princess Royal Hospital which reported five infestations of rats in two consecutive months, insects have been discovered in a Shropshire maternity unit and over 60 sightings of cockroaches were recorded at Aintree University Hospital, including on hospital wards.
Complete information regarding pests over the past five years was provided by 107 trusts. Infestations of bed bugs, mice and fleas, as well as the previously mentioned vermin, affected hospital wards and clinical areas. Overall records show pest control calls improved in 27 trusts but rather more worryingly, deteriorated in 42 trusts.
An independent watchdog believes that 15 hospital trusts do not meet the Care Quality Commission (CQC) standard for basic cleanliness.
A Conservative spokesman claimed that the number of hospital infections have halved since taking power in 2010. This sweeping statement was followed by the desire to build on cleanliness by giving NHS much needed funds during the next five years.
Safeguard is the largest independent pest control company in the UK and have vast experience in the healthcare industry. If you would like to discuss how Safeguard can help prevent pest infestations in medical facilities and hospitals, please contact us here or telephone 0800 328 4931.
