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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Jane Kirby

NHS staff lift the lid on filthy conditions at hospitals

  • A Unison survey of nearly 9,000 NHS workers reveals a state of disrepair in UK hospitals, including infestations of disease-carrying pests like rats, cockroaches, and silverfish.
  • Alongside pest issues, staff reported sewage leaks, faulty lighting, broken toilets, and decaying ceilings, raising concerns about hygiene and safety.
  • Seventeen per cent of staff expressed concerns about the safety of their workplace buildings. One in six reported seeing vermin, and a similar number reported insect infestations.
  • Unison's head of health, Helga Pile, has called for immediate funding to address the "crumbling Dickensian relic" of the NHS and prevent further deterioration of patient care.
  • NHS Providers' interim chief executive has echoed those concerns, emphasising the risks to patient and staff safety posed by dilapidated facilities and the financial strain of addressing those issues.
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