Concerns have been reported of hygiene worries about the Royal Free Hospital after cockroach, rat and feral pigeon sightings.

We should not be particularly surprised as these problems are really not uncommon within hospitals, either old or new build. Much can be done to keep matters under control though eradication is almost impossible. The report implies an annual pest control expenditure of around £30k at the Royal Free.

That is a huge sum, better spent on patient care, but realistically cannot be sufficient if sightings continue with such frequency to prompt reports in the press. For the hospital, its a no-win situation.

Cockroaches are the worst problem at Royal free, and indeed at most other hospitals. Contamination of waste stores is not uncommon, with cockroaches enjoying the warm dark confines of a poorly maintained waste storage block.

Placing bagged wastes into Eurocarts is an essential precaution against pest nuisance, particularly flies, but there are several waste management operations in the southern regions where cockroach and mouse infestation, and nuisance from seagulls, is a constant problem. Since expenditure on control is almost non-existent, the problem continues and it is not uncommon to find a heavy burden or roaches in unwashed Eurocarts used for transfer of smaller waste volumes during collection rounds.

Hospital to contractor, or contractor to hospital? It is not known which way the pests are spread, but without effective control measures and a proper standard of cart and site hygiene, waste management operations will never meet the required pest control standard that is part of the obligation under permitting.

http://www.london24.com/news/health/royal_free_hospital_hygiene_worry_after_cockroach_rat_and_feral_pigeon_sightings_1_1485662#

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