Rat prompts closure of Perth Royal Infirmary’s kitchens

Vermin control experts rushed to Perth Royal Infirmary this week after rats were detected in the hospital.

A shocked local politician said steps must be taken to ensure the health and safety of staff and patients, while NHS Tayside said the incident in the hospital kitchens was swiftly contained and dealt with.

Disruption at the hospital was kept to a minimum but the closure of the kitchens meant alternative arrangements had to be made to feed patients.

A spokesman for NHS Tayside said measures were taken after the unwelcome sighting.

“NHS Tayside has strict procedures in place for dealing with pest control problems and all reports of a potential pest sighting are dealt with as a matter of urgency,” he said.

“In line with these procedures, NHS Tayside called out pest control contractors immediately following a report of a suspected pest sighting in the kitchen in Perth Royal Infirmary on Tuesday.

“Environmental health officers from Perth and Kinross Council were also notified and invited to attend the site.

“All appropriate inspections and infection control procedures were carried out.

“During this time, food production from the kitchen was temporarily stopped.

“There was minimum disruption to patients, who were provided with an alternative lunch, and normal service was resumed by early afternoon.”

Conservative MSP Alexander Stewart, who has a long-standing interest in the hospital as it was within his ward when he was a councillor, said the incident was shocking and he expressed wider concerns arising from the revelation.

“I am horrified at being advised that a rat has been spotted in the kitchens of Perth Royal Infirmary,” he said.

“As a matter of urgency, NHS Tayside must ensure their policies of prevention and detection of pests are robustly reviewed and overhauled.

“There is clearly a building maintenance issue here and as such, patients and staff alike must have confidence in the cleanliness of the kitchens.

“Indeed this is immediately relevant to the hospital as a whole, as patients and staff are being severely put at risk.”

Picture: Kim Cessford. Vermin control experts were in action at the hospital this week.

Conservative MSP Alexander Stewart was “horrified” by the revelation.