Rats, cockroaches, wasps and lice are just a few of the pests troubling NHS hospitals throughout England.
Official data indicates that A&E departments, children’s wards, maternity units and staff kitchens have been impacted by infestations.
Additionally, maggots were found in a mortuary and rat droppings in a body bag.
Some insects even bit workers, which is another indication of the government’s failures in the health service.
Hospitals have faced significant expenses to fix deteriorating buildings in efforts to handle over 18,000 incidents in the past three years.
The alarming number included 6,666 in 2023 – which equals 18 per day.
The figures show that a total of £3.7 million was spent dealing with the pests, while the backlog for repairing worn-down buildings has reached £11.6 billion.
The figures – obtained from 142 NHS hospital trusts in England using Freedom of Information laws – were discovered by the Lib Dems.
However, only 59 responded, indicating that this may not provide the full picture and the actual situation of the NHS is much worse.
Imperial College NHS trust in London spent the most on pest control – £383,597 for 2,157 incidents in three years.
East and North Hertfordshire trust spent £119,199. It reported mice in a kitchen, maggots in a mortuary, rat droppings in a body bag and silverfish in a doctors’ canteen.
In Essex, Princess Alexandra hospital trust spent £273,330 on 77 incidents including ants in a maternity ward, a fly infestation in a ‘clean utility room’, rat droppings in corridors and rodents in the ceiling.
Others reported their ‘whole building has a fly infestation’, animal noises in walls and a dead headless pigeon.
Rachel Power, Patients Association chief, referred to the findings as ‘unacceptable and deeply concerning’.
She also stated: ‘No one should have to endure being exposed to insects, rodents or other pests when they are already dealing with illness or injury.’
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey commented: ‘This is a national scandal. In people’s hour of need, they need to be safe from bugs and rodents.
‘Instead, wards are falling apart at the seams with foul pests allowed to roam freely.
‘This Conservative government has left the NHS in decay with soaring repair bills. This madness has to end.’
The Department of Health stated that NHS trusts are responsible for maintaining estates but mentioned that its ‘significant investment’ included £4.2 billion on buildings this year.
‘We have also invested a further £1.7 billion for over 70 hospital upgrades,’ a spokesperson included.
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