An NHS trust has issued an apology after a mouse was spotted scurrying through a hospital ward at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham. The incident, which occurred on February 15 in Tennyson Ward, was captured on video by a visitor who was shocked by the presence of rodents in the hospital.
The visitor, who wished to remain anonymous, said staff responded casually to the sighting, allegedly stating: “Oh, there’s loads.”
Following the incident, Jayne Black, chief executive of Medway NHS Trust, apologized to patients and visitors, assuring the public that the hospital is working with pest control specialists to eliminate and monitor rodent activity.
Hospital Pledges Action After Rodent Infestation Concerns
The issue of rodents in Medway Maritime Hospital is not new. A Freedom of Information (FOI) request in 2023 revealed that the trust’s pest control services responded to 215 rodent-related callouts in the previous year alone.
In the 2022-23 financial year, the hospital spent £28,276 on pest control measures, highlighting the ongoing challenge of keeping rodents out of the facility.
NHS Trust Introduces High-Tech Pest Detection System
In response to the latest incident, Ms. Black reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to hygiene and cleanliness, emphasizing the introduction of advanced pest detection technology to combat the problem.
“We are very sorry for the distress caused to patients. We are working closely with pest control experts and hospital colleagues to clean and monitor the area to prevent any further issues, as we take the cleanliness and hygiene of our wards very seriously,” she said in a statement.
She added that the hospital has implemented an advanced system using infrared and Bluetooth technology to detect pests, alongside preventative measures to minimize access points for rodents.
Patients, visitors, and staff are being encouraged to report any pest sightings immediately so that swift action can be taken to resolve the issue.
Despite these measures, the incident has raised concerns about hygiene standards in NHS hospitals, prompting further scrutiny of pest control management within healthcare facilities.
