Smash hit

“It is hard to tell whether there has been an increase in the number of pests or whether there is better awareness and greater reporting of pest control issues.

“We are putting into place a number of new technologies to help our customers in terms of protection and prevention.

“Hospitals require a more rapid response to the problem as it is of great importance to them to maintain a clean and healthy environment.”

Christine Braithwaite, head of the healthcare associated infection programme at the Healthcare Commission, said: “Cleanliness and hygiene are issues of critical importance to patients and the public.

“We receive a wide range of information on hygiene from different sources. However, concerns around pest control have, to date, been negligible.

“Clearly, it may be necessary to take action against pests in these large public buildings from time to time.

“However, it is important for hospital trusts to have robust procedures in place to deal with any pest problems and, if they persist, trusts should question whether they have the right systems in place.”

Nearly a quarter of hospitals had problems with bed bugs, which can be hard to eradicate. They can survive for up to a year without feeding on a human host. But there is little evidence they can carry disease.

Almost 60 per cent had trouble with cockroaches, which can carry disease-causing bacteria. By far the commonest pests were ants, reported by 80 per cent of hospitals.

Some hospitals said that the number of reports was an indication of how seriously they took any pest infestation.

A spokeswoman for Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, for example, said: “Common calls in Portsmouth are to deal with ants or, being a coastal city, dead seagulls or pigeons in the grounds.

“The number of calls logged reflects the proactive approach adopted by the Trust as successful pest control relies on early identification of potential problems.

“The number of helpdesk calls is not a reflection on cleanliness in our hospitals, more a recognition that we do not procrastinate with our response.”

The Department of Health dismissed suggestions that the pests were linked to spread of hospital-acquired infections like MRSA and insisted the threat to patient safety was “negligible”.

Explore Health News

• Swine flu

Times Recommends

• Times Christmas appeal: Letter from the Editor
• Conferences — what a waste of money
• Schools supremo learns a painful lesson