Rats, mice and ants in hospitals as HSE spends €800,000 getting rid of pests

Rats, mice, ants, feral cats, pigeons and flies were among the pests found in Irish hospitals during the past five years, as the Health Service Executive spent over €800,000 on pest-control services.

Figures released by the HSE reveal that a total of €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.

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.

Pest activity reports and details of pest control visits by Rentokil, the pests control company, for the past three years were previously released under FOI.

The inspection reports revealed an extensive problem with flies in UHG, including at its kitchen and where food is stored, and a rat problem on the grounds at Merlin Park Hospital, Galway.

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 during that time.

The third-highest bill for pest control was that of University Hospital Galway, which spent a total of €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.

The HSE South region, which includes Cork University Hospital, was the second highest at €163,608; while hospitals in the HSE South-East region were third at €122,616.

A spokesperson for the HSE said the marked variance in the amounts spent by hospitals on pest control reflected size differences in facilities and varying requirements in each case.

“The HSE adheres to HSE procurement policy and public-sector procurement guidelines. Tenders for pest-control services are local, required on an ad-hoc basis, and sourced when required,” she stated.