Rat spotted in corridor at Coventry's University Hospital

[dutchman]

Operations at Coventry’s University Hospital were cancelled after a rat was spotted in a corridor.



The day surgery unit at the Walsgrave hospital was shut off on Friday and about 30 patients had their surgery postponed.

Pest control experts were called in after the alarm was raised.

The unit, which is used for performing minor procedures, has since reopened and a spokesman for the hospital stated that the incident was “incredibly rare”.

The spokesman said: “The day surgery unit at University Hospital in Coventry was temporarily closed as a precautionary measure on Friday November 14 after a rat was seen in a corridor near the unit at 7am before any surgery had taken place.

“A pest control team were called in and have worked over the weekend to resolve the problem. The problem is contained and the day surgery unit, which performs minor surgical procedures, has now been reopened and services are being delivered normally.

“We can confirm that rat droppings were not found in any of the theatres and catering has not been affected, although we have been working with environmental health as a precaution.

“This affected less than 30 patients and we would like to apologise unreservedly to them for being affected by this incredibly rare incident.”

The news comes just days after the Telegraph revealed that rat catchers have been called out almost 1,600 times in Coventry so far this year.

The city’s pest control experts received 1,596 calls to remove rats from homes and streets in the first nine months of 2014.

The worst rat hot-spots are in the north of the city - with areas such as Foleshill and Longford having the most call outs.

[dutchman]

More operations cancelled as rats invade Coventry hospital



Coventry's University Hospital has suspended some operations after rats invaded the site.

The infestation has shut down the day surgery unit at the Walsgrave Hospital and a total of 45 patients have now had operations cancelled.

The unit, which is used for performing minor procedures, had a similar scare last Friday which saw the unit closed over the weekend and about 30 operations postponed.

The last closure was put down to the presence of just one rat – but it appears there may now be a larger problem and the unit will remain shut off until it has been dealt with by pest control experts.

A hospital spokesman said: “A further small number have been discovered and we are continuing to work with pest control specialists to manage and monitor the situation.

“We are working towards reopening the unit as soon as we are confident that the problem has been resolved.”

They added: “A decision has been taken to temporarily close the day surgery unit at University Hospital in Coventry as a precautionary measure.

“This is to ensure pest control specialists can continue to deal with the problem effectively.

“This follows an earlier temporary closure of the day surgery unit after a rat was seen in a corridor.”

The spokesman also insisted the issue was confined to one area of the hospital and that patients had not been put at risk.

“We are satisfied that patient safety has not been compromised by this issue,” they said.

“Patients will be contacted by the hospital if they are affected by the temporary closure. We would like to unreservedly apologise to those affected by this incredibly rare incident.

“We undertake regular monitoring by pest control specialists as part of the hospital maintenance contract and that will continue.

“There are no other closures in place anywhere else in the hospital.”