PEST sightings are plaguing south Essex hospitals with more than 1,300 reported in the last three years, figures have revealed. 

A Freedom of Information request has revealed 427 reports of pests were made in 2023-24 at the Mid and South Essex NHS Trust, which manages Basildon, Southend and Broomfield hospitals. 

A huge 555 pest reports were made the previous year, and 404 in 2021-22. 

It comes just months after Courtney Bailey spotted a mouse scurrying around the corridor while she was an in-patient at Basildon Hospital. 

Echo: Basildon Hospital is run by the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation TrustBasildon Hospital is run by the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (Image: Newsquest)

 

The Mid and South Essex Trust pointed toward the “significant hospital estate” when questioned on the figures and insisted regular audits take place. 

Now, Courtney says she is “not surprised” by the figures reported by the trust which runs Basildon Hospital.

“When I saw a mouse, I was infuriated,” the 25-year-old from Basildon said.

“We know these things happen sometimes, but it’s one thing knowing about it and another thing actually seeing it. Knowing a mouse was right outside my ward, I really wasn’t happy about it.

 

 

“I know we all pick up infections and illnesses, it’s inevitable in a hospital, but you’d hope they’d be doing everything they can to avoid you getting ill.”

Courtney added she would be “more than happy” to meet with hospital bosses to try and overhaul their cleaning protocols, drawing on her experience running her own cleaning company.

Only two of the trusts across the country which responded to the Freedom of Information request had more reports of pests in the latest year.

The Liberal Democrats requested the information from every NHS trust in England, and pest sightings at the trust which runs hospitals in south Essex accounted for more than six per cent of all reports from the trusts which responded.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: “These are shocking revelations and another sign our hospitals are no longer up to scratch for sick patients and hardworking staff.”

Chris Howlett, the trust’s estates and facilities boss, said: “As one of the largest trusts in the country, we have a significant hospital estate which we regularly audit to ensure that any issues are escalated for action.”