An insect infestation on a dialysis ward, vermin in a mortuary and mice in a canteen were just some of the pest issues endured at a major hospital.
Workers at Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital also reported a “problem with bluebottles” in a cath lab where cardiac tests and procedures are performed and pest controllers were called about vermin outside the endoscopy unit.
Records released under the freedom of information law reveal a recurrent insect infestation in the pantry of the general intensive care unit last year, requiring pest controllers to be called nine times to deal with the issue.
A spokesman for Beaumont Hospital said: “We have a full pest control process in place, working with third parties as required to maintain the highest level of health and safety standards.”
There were also complaints about creepy-crawlies in the clinical nurse manager’s office in the same unit, prompting pest officers to recommend a “deep clean”.
Mouse activity in the X-ray canteen was the subject of callouts at least seven times in June and July alone, when four dead rodents were removed.
Vermin were also reported in the staff room of the same department.
In May, insects were reported “falling from the ceiling onto [a] desk” in the patient accounts area while insects crawling on a desk in the A&E administration area the following month were identified as silverfish.
A total of 65 work orders placed with pest controllers last year were in addition to routine and follow-up visits conducted by the firm.
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