Nearly half of all hospital kitchens and canteens in England could be failing to meet basic standards of cleanliness and hygiene, according to official inspection reports.

Cockroaches, medical waste on food-handling equipment, mouse droppings and poor hygiene among catering staff were all cited as problems.

The findings were revealed after a freedom of information request for health inspection reports from a quarter of all local authorities.Of the 377 hospitals included, 173 displayed poor cleanliness and 68 fell below the legal requirements for food storage. A total of 107 did not have correct food safety documentation, 66 stored food at incorrect temperatures, 25 had inadequate staff training and 57 had staff with poor personal hygiene.

Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrats’ Shadow Health Secretary, who collected the findings, said that they painted a shocking picture. “It is simply unacceptable that such terrible practices are taking place in an environment where hygiene and safety should be paramount,” he said.“The worst performers should be named and shamed - while those doing well would stand as an example to drive up standards.”

In six hospitals, inspections high-lighted five or more areas of concern. The institutions were: Farnham Road Hospital in Guildford; Churchill Hospital in Oxford; Blackpool Victoria Hospital; Derby City General Hospital; Ipswich Hospital and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in Norwich.

At the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, “full-grown adult” cockroaches were found in kitchens according to the 2006 report. The 2007 report stated that there had been “regular reports of an infestation of oriental cockroaches in the kitchen”.

At the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester, milk was found stored in the drug freezer in the radiology department and inspectors found a syringe on a supper tray at the May-day University Hospital in Croydon.

An official from the Department of Health said: “Failure to meet hygiene standards is unacceptable and where there are problems we expect the local authorities responsible for inspecting and enforcing food hygiene regulations to take action.”

The trust that runs Derby City General defended its hygiene regime, suggesting the report may have been based on out-of-date results. Julie Acred, chief executive, said: “Based on the report we have had most recently we don’t have any significant cleanliness issues in the hospital.”

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