More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Pest controllers have been called out to a Kent hospital hundreds of times in the past five years, it has been revealed.
Vermin – including more than 50 rats – have been found at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham.
In February, a rat was found in the A&E resuscitation unit.
In total, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, has had to call out pest controllers 330 times.
In comparison, East Kent had 169 call outs, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells had 69 and Dartford and Gravesham had 62.
A survey found hospitals across the county also had problems with mice, squirrels, silverfish, ants, wasps and fleas in kitchen waste areas, wards and key clinical areas.
Medway NHS Foundation Trust said the hospital, in Windmill Road, was Kent's largest single-site hospital, and located next to the Great Lines Heritage Park which made it more "susceptible" to pests.
The spokesman added: "The trust takes a zero-tolerance approach to pests.
"Any sighting is taken seriously and our pest control contractor is called on site immediately to assess possible points of entry, compile a report of the areas affected and actions put in place for control and prevention.
"Our patients and visitors should be assured that all pest-related issues are closely monitored.
"We have an effective internal system for reporting any sightings, ensuring everything that should be done, is done."
Cllr Teresa Murray, Medway's health spokeswoman for Labour, said the news was worrying.
She said: "It is the last thing we need when we are trying to improve patient confidence in Medway Maritime Hospital.
"I will be asking to see their hygiene reports and some comparative data and I hope they have evidence that the pests have been controlled and removed.
"It is a big organisation and having pests does not mean that you are dirty.
"They will congregate where it is warm and there is food, but I think the hospital could do more in their public areas like A&E and outside.
"I don't think they police people's behaviours effectively and the public do leave litter."
