Scottish NHS board's £269,000 pest control spend revealed
During the four year time frame, 499 incidents involving 'crawling insects' were logged, as well as 178 reports of 'rodents', 128 reports of 'flying insects', and 461 reports of 'birds'.
Money was also spent on cleaning up after 7 foxes, 9 bats, and 3 rabbits.
Affected health care facilities included Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin, Woodend and Cornhill Hospitals in Aberdeen, and a number of smaller institutions across Aberdeenshire and Moray.
Scottish Conservative MSP Alexander Burnett said: 'Dedicated NHS staff should not be forced to work in ageing, crumbling infested buildings that are putting the safety of themselves and their patients at risk.
'In people's hour of need, they should be safe from bugs and rodents roaming around freely in wards.'
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Mr Burnett, who represents Aberdeenshire West in Holyrood, added: 'These repeated pest control call-outs are costing NHS Grampian a fortune, at a time when it is struggling to keep the lights on as it is.
'This substantial increase come at a time when the Scottish Government shamefully froze all new NHS building projects for two years, which has had a hugely detrimental impact on the North East.
'The Scottish Government must urgently give NHS Grampian the resources it needs to improve the North East estate and to ensure our hospitals are safe and clean.'
The health board declared a 'critical incident' last November, due to 'extreme pressure' on Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, the area's largest hospital.
During the incident, which lasted for a day, ambulance patients were diverted to other hospitals outside their area.
NHS Grampian has been contacted for comment.
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