HSE spent 800k dealing with rodents and insects

Rats, mice, ants, fleas, and silverfish were among the infestations found in hospitals during the past five years, as the HSE spent more than 800,000 on pest-control services.

Figures released by the HSE reveal that 812,904 has been paid to pest-control companies for work carried out at 30 public hospitals throughout the State since 2009.

Problems involving pests have included an infestation of ants in the maternity unit at University Hospital Galway last March, and sightings of mice in the emergency department at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, Co Galway.

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda was also forced to spend almost 20,000 on specialist netting to protect its staff from flocks of aggressive birds last year.

The hospital with the highest spend on pest-control services was Cork University Hospital, which spent 122,777 during the five-year period from 2009.

It was closely followed by University Hospital Limerick, which paid 121,847 to pest-control companies.

The third-highest bill for pest control was that of University Hospital Galways, which spent 69,349 on services that included the capture and destruction of feral cats on the hospital grounds in 2012. Among the lowest-spending hospitals were Monaghan General Hospital (2,716); Roscommon Hospital (3,839); and Mayo General Hospital (6,149).

Pest-control companies typically use bait stations around the perimeter and in high-risk areas within a hospital facility. They monitor and respond to any detected signs of pest activity.

The figures were released by the HSE in response to a parliamentary question recently. They reveal the extent of spending on pest-control services by hospitals in each of the seven health authority regions.

Hospitals in the HSE Mid-West region, which includes University Hospital Limerick, reported the highest expenditure on pest control at 232,164 during the five-year period.

Read the original here:
HSE spent 800k dealing with rodents and insects