2 days Ago By Chris Musson
HEALTH bosses have forked out £4.3million tackling rats, wasps’ nests, cockroaches, seagulls and maggots in “crumbling” hospitals. A dead rabbit and mice droppings were among other health hazards found around ageing NHS buildings.
4 Over £4.3m has been spent on pest control in Scotland's hospitals Credit: PA 4 Rats, mice and maggots are among some of the rodents found in medical centres Credit: Tom Farmer 4 Cash was also spent dealing with cockroaches Credit: Getty It emerged chiefs in Greater Glasgow and Clyde have spent more than £2million on pest control since 2019. Last January-April they had 61 call-outs for ants and 33 for rodents, according to details released under freedom of information.
Ministers were last night accused of failing to fund new treatment centres despite repeated warnings. Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “These figures tell a story of a constant battle to keep our crumbling hospitals and clinics safe from pests. READ MORE SCOTTISH NEWS 'WRONG SEX' CLAIMS Scots kids as young as 5 claim they're trapped in wrong bodies MARCHING POWDER Shocking 110 Scots soldiers axed for taking drugs over last five years “The UK Government delivered a record Budget settlement for Scotland including funding for NHS capital projects.
“The SNP must make sure every penny goes to improving our NHS estate.” Shocked workers found a mouse nest in a Highlands nurses’ bedroom, along with a rat infestation in doctors’ digs, Labour said. Bed bugs were found in patient accommodation while mice were “dropping over everything” in a dental unit in Fort William , Inverness-shire.
NHS Lothian revealed cases of maggots, cockroaches and even squirrels. Elsewhere, a dead rabbit was discovered on the patio of a mental health outpatients’ building in Dumfries and Galloway. Most read in The Scottish Sun MUSIC LEGEND LOST Wayne Osmond dead at 73 as singer’s family ‘will miss him dearly’ SNOWMAGEDDON! Exact date parts of Scotland could be paralysed by MAJOR dump of snow HATS OFF Moment Rangers hero takes fan's hat and wears it for wild celebrations at Ibrox 'DISGUSTING' Celtic star Arne Engels felled by missile thrown by Rangers fan Ants were found in a maternity unit while maggots were spotted in a dining room in Ayrshire and Arran.
We told how ministers were blasted in July for further delaying the start of building work including 12 “national treatment centres”. Our streets have been left to rot - the lights haven't worked for months and abandoned buildings are like maternity units for rats Spending watchdogs warned last month that investment in facilities has plummeted. Audit Scotland’s annual report revealed health boards faced difficult decisions while juggling increased demand for services and ageing buildings.
The report said: “Investment in healthcare facilities remains paused. Available budgets are not sufficient to maintain the existing estate.” The Scottish Government said pest control cash “is a necessary part of maintaining” an NHS estate spanning 1,572 hectares.
A spokesman said: “Our 2025-26 draft budget sets out a record £21billion for health and social care, including more than £1billion capital investment and £140million additional funding across NHS infrastructure to allow our health capital programme to restart.” 4 Spending watchdogs warned last month that investment in facilities has plummeted (Stock Image) Credit: PA.
