BATS INVADE THE WARDS; Anger over latest scare at hospital.

Byline: Lachlan Mackinnon

HOSPITAL wards have been invaded by bats, it was revealed yesterday.

And last night, campaigners demanded action to stop further infestations at NHS Tayside.

In the last year, pest controllers have been called out 462 times to deal with problems in their hospitals.

They includes infestations of mice, rats, seagulls, maggots, cockroaches, flies, silverfish, ants and wasps.

Surgical The bats were found in Dundee's Ninewells Hospital - in general medical ward six on September 4 and surgical ward nine on September 9. Pest controllers were called twice in the space of five days to remove the creatures.

Margaret Watt, chairwoman of the Scotland Patients Association, said last night: "This is totally unacceptable. We've got enough to contend with, with MRSA and clostridium difficile, without having foreign bodies running around.

"Patients are frightened enough to go into hospital without knowing there are rats and mice and cockroaches. This health board has got to waken up."

North-east Scotland Labour MSP Marlyn Glen said:"The idea our hospitals are infected with mice, cockroaches and even bats is utterly repellent.

"The health secretary Nicola Sturgeon needs to get on top of this and support staff instead of cutting budgets and piling pressure on our doctors and nurses."

CAPTION(S):

INFESTED: Ninewells Hospital has a bat problem