RATS, cockroaches, and silverfish are running rampant at NHS hospitals and buildings, according to a large staff survey.
A poll of almost 9,000 health workers for the Unison union suggests pests may be thriving in damp conditions and unfixed buildings.
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Staff also reported sewage leaks, defective lighting, broken toilets and crumbling ceilings.
Of those that took part in the poll, around one in six said they’d spotted vermin such as rats inside their building in the past 12 months.
One in six also revealed they’d seen other infestations such as silverfish, ants and cockroaches.
Silverfish are metallic, silvery bugs that thrive in damp conditions while cockroaches can carry diseases and illnesses such as gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, typhoid and salmonella.
Rats carry several diseases such as leptospirosis (Weil’s disease), which is spread in their urine.
But pests weren’t the only thing to worry about, as 17 per cent of staff said they didn’t think the building they worked in was safe.
More than half (52 per cent) reported seeing buckets catching leaking water in their workplace buildings in the past year while almost a quarter (23 per cent) witnessed sewage leaks.
And 28 per cent said public toilets in their hospitals have been out of order for extended periods while 30 per cent reported broken staff toilets.
Out of order lifts, defective lighting, and ceilings falling apart were among other top complaints.
Helga Pile, Unison head of health, said: “This survey paints a worrying picture of an NHS system that’s falling apart at the seams and in need of a serious overhaul.
“No-one should be dodging rats, stepping over sewage or watching out for falling ceiling tiles in NHS buildings.
“The last thing patients or staff want is vermin, cockroaches and other unpleasant things roaming the wards. Disease-carrying pests can put people’s health at risk.”
One member of staff working in the north-west of England told how rodent bait boxes were dotted all over his hospital and a leaking waste pipe had resulted in a foul odour.
However, rats were still getting into a room storing sterile instruments and supplies, he said.
Another hospital staff member from Scotland said ceilings had collapsed and water buckets collecting leaking rainwater were a constant trip hazard.
Another worker in charge of cleaning and handling medical equipment in the east of England told Unison he had seen mouse droppings on the floor and desks in reception, in staff break rooms and in the sterile instrument storage room.
No-one should be dodging rats, stepping over sewage or watching out for falling ceiling tiles in NHS buildings
Helga Pile
Ms Pile said: “Previous governments made wildly exaggerated claims about building new hospitals and raided pots of cash earmarked to improve the NHS estate.
“The NHS should be fit for the 21st century, not a crumbling Dickensian relic.”
Ms Pile said fixing the damage done by years of neglect isn’t going to be a five-minute job.
She continued: “Money needs to be made available immediately to sort out the worst of the problems.
“Longer-term investment plans must be sped up and maintenance budgets spared the axe.
“If operations are cancelled and wards closed because of pests and sewage leaks, delays and waiting times will only get worse.”
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The Department of Health has been contacted for comment.
Interim chief executive of NHS Providers Saffron Cordery said: “Safety of patients and staff is the top priority, but this is being put at risk every day from crumbling buildings, pest infestations and sewage leaks.
“It’s alarming that NHS trusts have to spend lots of money on pest control on top of a rocketing, near-£14 billion backlog of essential repairs to buildings and equipment which are in a very bad way.
“Vital parts of the NHS are falling to bits after years of underinvestment nationally.
“Hospitals as well as mental health, community and ambulance services are doing everything they can to improve productivity and deliver more high-quality care, but to do this they need safe, modern, efficient and reliable facilities.
“The condition of the NHS estate is holding them back from doing this as quickly as possible.”
Pest control callouts in NHS hospitals on the rise…
LAST year, Freedom of Information Requests by the Liberal Democrats revealed the extent of pests roaming NHS Hospitals.
Since 2021, over 60 NHS Trusts have reported £3.7 million spent on pest control at their hospitals.
Imperial College NHS Trust, which includes St.Mary’s Hospital London, spent a staggering £383,597 on pest control, including dealing with 748 pest incidents last year alone.
The most shocking incidents were reported by East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Trust, which includes Colchester Hospital and Ipswich Hospital. Staff reported:
- Black insects are biting the legs of staff
- Ants and fly infestations
- Rats in the ambulance area
Overall, there has been a rise in pests reported at hospitals, from 5,292 in 2021/2022 to 6,666 2023/2024.
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