NHS Grampian pest control data for every hospital shows insects, rodents and more
New analysis has revealed which pests prompted the most callouts across hospitals in Moray and Aberdeenshire.
Across the health board, data from a Freedom of Information request shows a total of 1669 pest control callouts during the time period, with 178 linked to rodents.
The most common cause was crawling insects, with 499 incidents, followed by birds with 461.
Figures showed that Dr Gray’s hospital had the third-highest number of pest control callouts of any building in NHS Grampian over the last four years.
The hospital saw 146 pest control callouts over the time period including 55 incidents linked to crawling insects and both birds and wasps listed as the reason for 24 callouts.
Pest control also recorded with 23 rodent callouts and 18 cases of flying insects - along with one bat.
The Chalmers Hospital in Banff saw pest control called out to 51 incidents involving birds and 10 involving rodents.
Seafield Hospital in Buckie saw 40 pest control callouts in response to crawling insects.
At The Oaks, in Elgin, there were 14 incidents linked to crawling insects, four linked to wasps, three incidents each linked to rodents and birds, and two for both flying insects and bees.
The figures also revealed that the Turner Hospital, in Keith, had a total of 14 callouts due to wasps.
Also included in the original Freedom of Information request, were details about NHS Grampian’s spending on pest control services.
The figures showed that spending nearly doubled from £67,000 in the year from April 2024, to £103k in the following year.
However, NHS Grampian argued that pest control costs were not only in response to infestations, but also included standard checks of food production areas.
Additional pest control costs could also be down to the replacement of infrastructure such as bird netting.
Gavin Payne, general manager of NHS Grampian facilities and estates, said: "We have a large estate across the region and pest control is part and parcel of managing our buildings.
“A proportion of our annual costs are taken up by regular checks in all food preparation areas; these are not in response to reports of pests but rather a legal requirement.
“We have contracts with pest management firms who provide expert support as required."