Pests are a threat to healthcare and nursing premises. They can pose a significant risk of infection and harm to patients and healthcare professionals.
Practice managers should put in place steps to avoid pest infestations and understand the current guidance and regulations, as well as the risks presented in healthcare environments.
Is pest control a big problem in healthcare?
Full information on pest issues in UK healthcare practices is not readily available, but the data available paints a concerning picture.
What we know:
- In 2023-2024, there were at least 6,666 pest infestations in NHS hospitals.
- This averages to 18 incidents per day for the 2023-2024 period.
- Between 2021 and 2024, there were at least 18,877 pest incidences in NHS hospitals.
- It cost upwards of £3.7 million to address these problems over the 2021-2024 period.
Plus, pests can feel right at home in a healthcare environment. The presence of human food waste and places to seek harbourage provides good sources of sustenance, breeding grounds and shelter. Urban environments, where dental and healthcare services are typically located, also have few large predators.
Pest control in healthcare
To protect a healthcare clinic, dental practice or care home, professionals can look to current guidelines from leading regulatory bodies. NHS England recommends that healthcare teams reach out to licensed specialist contractors who can work safely and legally, preventatively and/or reactively. They should provide service reports at every visit, which can then help organisations make safe and effective decisions going forward.
Whilst both interior and exterior aspects of the healthcare environment should be assessed, a service should prioritise pest activity in high-risk areas. These include food areas (for example, a communal kitchen or staff room) and clinical spaces.
Any action that a contractor recommends, such as the use of pesticides, must be judged against the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). This keeps staff safe and protects patients from potential threats to their health.
How waste management reduces pest risks
Health Technical Memorandum 07-01 (HTM 07-01) is the gold-standard guidance for clinical waste management and notes the need to prevent pest infestations. It suggests that healthcare practices carry out an appropriate site-specific risk assessment so changes can be made with confidence.
One important takeaway is that infectious items that are not pharmaceutical, chemical, anatomical or palletised waste should be stored in a secure container. This should be indoors (helpful for keeping pests away), but it can be outdoors if the practice can ensure its safety.
Bagged waste should also be stored in fully enclosed, lockable, rigid, leak-proof and weather-proof containers.
Find safe solutions with Initial Medical
Initial Medical provides a range of solutions, including lockable yellow wheelie bins ranging in size from 240L-1100L. The locking mechanism is key for keeping pests away from discarded material, and ensuring clinicians are safe while moving waste items. An Initial Medical Wheelie Bin Sanitiser Station can be installed by a member of the Initial Medical team at the point of use, which reduces the risk of contamination in the practice, but it is also a great reminder to check the lock.
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