News / Southmead Hospital
‘Rat infestations’ at hospital
Staff at Southmead Hospital have complained about the amount of rubbish piling up on hospital grounds.
Many have posted their concerns on a private Facebook group about the North Bristol NHS Trust hospital which has more than 4,000 members.
Speaking to Bristol24/7, one member who wished to remain anonymous said: “The North Bristol Trust no longer cleans Southmead Hospital’s public areas outside at the weekends anymore due to cutting costs and under staffing.”
is needed now More than ever
The staff slammed the non-enforcement of the hospital’s no smoking policy – photo: Facebook
Staff have explained the situation has led to rat infestations, which made the hospital a “horrible place for staff and patients to be”.
They added: “This has been the case for several years now, with recent reports of rat infestations in the public gardens.”
“Messy Monday” – an anonymous staff member said rubbish is not collected over the weekend – photo: staff Facebook group
The anonymous staff member said the mess is worse on Monday mornings because rubbish is not collected over the weekend.
Most of the rubbish can be found at the hospital’s Brunel Building, on Southmead Road, as well as in the communal garden next to Costa Coffee.
A spokesperson for North Bristol NHS Trust said: “At North Bristol Trust we are committed to providing a safe and clean environment for our patients, visitors and staff.
“We have many teams and procedures in place to keep all our sites clean with responsibilities split between our in-house teams and Equans who provides some of the services within the Brunel (PFI) building.
“In terms of smoking we operate a smoke free site in line with national policy and also promote smoking cessation services to patients and staff.
“Any concerns raised by patients, visitors or staff will be investigated and dealt with appropriately.”
When Bristol24/7 raised the issue with Costa Coffee, a spokesperson for the group, said: “Costa Coffee takes its commitment to the environment and the local communities we operate in extremely seriously.
“It is always disappointing when we see our packaging littered. We have spoken to the Hospital Trust who own and empty the bins about the litter – and they are taking the necessary actions to clear this up. Additionally, across all 2,700+ Costa Coffee stores we offer in-store recycling for coffee cups, which can be left or returned to stores, regardless of brand.”
Main photo: Facebook
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