PIGEON culls have been suspended at Southend Hospital despite reports of deaths at another medical centre.

The hospital has decided to look again at alternative methods of control.

Earlier this month, the Echo reported how a family member had slammed the hospital for its use of cages to trap and kill pigeons in full view of patients.

It was alleged that rather than having their heads snapped by pest control experts they were starving to death.

Previous concerns were raised in 2016 with 900 signatures collected.

Following pressure from animal rights groups the hospital has decided to review the methods used and has suspended the current practice while that takes place.

A spokesman for the hospital said: “Representatives at Southend University Hospital met with London Wildlife Protection on the hospital site to discuss potential alternatives that will help us control the pigeon population on-site and reduce the damage caused by the pigeons and their waste.

“We will consider these options and discuss the best approach with the licensed pest control company we work with.

“We would also like to make it clear that the images distributed in a social media post circulating about pigeons at Southend Hospital are not images of the control measures in place on our site.”

The decision comes as pigeon droppings have been linked to the deaths of two people at a hospital in Glasgow.

The patients died after contracting a fungal infection linked to pigeon droppings and are thought to have caught the airborne disease after inhaling spores.

The move has been hailed as a victory by animal rights groups in the area.

The London Wildlife Protection, who urged people to contact the hospital with concerns prior to this decision, are now working with the hospital moving forward.

Rachel Barrat, a spokesman for the group, said: “We would like to thank Southend Hospital for meeting with us and are delighted to report that agreement has been reached to stop all culling of pigeons while looking for humane ways to manage the pigeon population.

“The years of culling have actually been counter-productive and have resulted in an increase in the number of pigeons due to older, mainly non-breeding birds being killed and replaced by younger, healthy breeding birds.

“Scientific research has proved that all lethal methods of pigeon control are totally ineffective in the medium and long-term reduction of pigeon numbers.”

Southend Hospital will work with London Wildlife Protection and Humane Wildlife Solutions to find more effective but humane ways to manage them.