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Cockroaches in maternity unit

Helen Johnson
25/ 9/2007

THE maternity unit at Rochdale Infirmary has been closed because of an infestation of cockroaches.

Worried hospital bosses have been forced to create a temporary six-bed service for new mothers in the children’s ward.

Other patients are being transferred to Fairfield General Hospital.

The temporary ward will be used until the end of the week while the maternity unit is fumigated.

The playroom in the children’s unit is being used for storage while the clean-up operation takes place.

Hospital bosses say they had no choice but to shut down the unit, but the mother of a patient who had a caesarean birth at the Infirmary last Wednesday spoke of her disgust at the measures.

The Castleton woman, who asked not to be named, said: "I thought she’d be in a private room, but she was in a little ward with three other beds, with curtains for privacy.

"I could tell something was going on, so I asked if the maternity unit was being decorated. I was told they had cockroaches and it was going to be fumigated. Everyone seemed a bit squashed in, it was hot and overcrowded and there wasn’t a lot of fresh air.

"I didn’t want to upset my daughter by telling her.

"I always thought after a caesarean you had three days in hospital after the actual day of the operation so I was surprised when I heard she was coming home on Friday, two days after she had the baby.

"They're both fine now, and very happy.

"I didn't want to make any trouble, and the staff were very nice, but you just don't expect anything like that in a new building."

Despite the outbreak, the grandmother would still like to see maternity services stay in Rochdale.

She said: "A lot of women in Rochdale aren't lucky enough to have a car. There could be a lot of young mums having to get buses to go other hospitals.

"They could build a lovely place in Rochdale. Where did all the money they made on car parking go?"

Cockroaches can carry diseases including salmonella, certain viruses and even polio.

A spokesman for Rochdale Infirmary said: "An area of the maternity unit is currently being fumigated so we had no option but to temporarily close the unit.

"As soon as the problem was discovered, action had to be taken very quickly and we are working very hard to do the job and re-open as quickly as possible.

"Additional maternity beds have been opened at Fairfield General Hospital during this time.

"Patients needing other types of care that is provided by the maternity unit are being seen within other areas of the Infirmary.

"We are hoping to have the unit re-opened by the weekend."

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