The cleanliness of most NHS hospitals in England is threatened by frequent invasions of rats, fleas, bedbugs, flies and cockroaches.
Figures show that 70 percent of NHS Trusts brought in pest controllers at least 50 times between January 2006 and March 2008. Vermin were found in wards, clinics and even operating theatres.
The figures were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, with every hospital asked to reveal how often pest controllers had visited. Of those that replied, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust topped the list, with more than 1,000 incidents. All the respondents had reported some pest problem in the two-year period.
Problems included wasps in a neo-natal unit, and flying ants on the main wards, rats in the maternity unit, and wasps in operating theatres. A children's A&E was infested with flies, and main wards were also home to mice, silverfish, biting insects and beetles. Other common problems included bedbugs, fleas and cockroaches.