Pest control
Why pest control should be a top priority in your home
Paul Bates, managing director of Cleankill Pest Control, explains why care home managers need to take pest control extremely seriously, and outlines what they should be looking for when sourcing a pest control provider
There have been many instances where care homes have faced heavy fines or even been closed down as a result of pest problems. For instance, a former Dunstable care home was fined more than £25,000 and placed under special measures after serious food hygiene issues were discovered during an inspection by Central Bedfordshire Council. An unannounced food hygiene
inspection was conducted and found numerous food hygiene contraventions during the inspection. Inspectors said the home was dirty, cluttered, and had an ongoing pest control problem. Another care home, in Essex, was graded by the CQC as inadequate with an ongoing pest control problem which staff said made it very difficult to keep the kitchen clean. In another, horrendous case a dementia care home was closed after inspectors found some service users had skin wounds which were more vulnerable to a risk of infection from the insects that were infesting the property. Flies were seen on people’s dressed wounds, found in drinks, and seen on people’s food risking contamination
which could cause illness. As well as being distressing and dangerous for residents, the flies created a very unpleasant environment for staff to be working in. Every time I hear about a care home that has got into trouble for not keeping the premises free from pests, it makes me shudder.
Care home residents and their families
should expect the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene, and know that they will not be put at risk in the place that is supposed to be looking after them.
Unacceptable risks
Pest activity in care homes can pose unacceptable risks to service users, staff, and visitors, while undermining reputation and public confidence. That is why pest control should always be a priority for care home managers – and I am not just saying that because I run a pest control company. Most of us will have or have had a relative or friend who is living in a care home and we want to know that they will not get ill from something that was avoidable.
While most healthy adults can usually cope with a sting from a wasp, bites from spiders and bedbugs, or even salmonella, the consequences for vulnerable care home residents can be very serious. It is vital that pest control providers are
very thorough and responsive, particularly during the summer months when residents spend more time outside and doors and windows are more likely to be left open. Knowing your pest control services are in safe hands means your team can dedicate itself to running your care home and caring for the residents. The NHS has published national standards for pest control which are very comprehensive and useful. They stress that pest control and management is essential for safe and hygienic healthcare facilities and organisations must have effective and appropriate pest control management policies, procedures, contracts/services and systems in place. The guidelines also outline that organisations should procure licensed specialist contractors to support pest control. In my personal life and professional life,
I have visited many care homes and I am grateful for the opportunity to offer advice to care home managers through this article.
Do not ‘bundle’ contracts Firstly, it is important to keep your pest control contract separate from other services such as landscaping and cleaning – sometimes called ‘bundling’ – because sometimes there can be a conflict if poor landscaping or cleaning work contributes to a pest problem. For instance, if shrubs have not been cut back properly, they can offer harbourage to rodents and pest birds. Or, if cleaning staff have not been thorough in cleaning up crumbs and food waste, are forgetting to empty bins or are not disposing of rubbish properly, their mistakes can lead to infestations.
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www.thecarehomeenvironment.com September 2024
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