Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust came fourth on a list of the most times pest controllers were called out between 2006 and April 2008, with 855. Nottingham Hospitals NHS Trust topped the poll after recording 1,070 incidents.

The details - released under the Freedom of Information Act - were obtained by the Tories, who contacted all 171 NHS trusts in England. Of the 127 which responded, almost all were said to have experienced some problems.

Almost 20,000 incidents of pest infestation have broken out at hospitals over the past two years, it was revealed. Outbreaks have included rats in maternity wards, wasps and fleas in neo-natal units and maggots in patients' slippers.

But the Government dismissed suggestions that the problems were linked to spread of hospital-acquired infections like MRSA and insisted the threat to patient safety was "negligible".

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "It is difficult for health service estates to maintain a completely pest-free environment but the level and variety of these infections is concerning.

"We need greater transparency in NHS infection control, and publishing data like this is one way in which we can drive up overall hygiene standards."

There were almost 20,000 reports of pest problems, while seven out of 10 trusts said they had called in pest control officers more than 50 times since January 2006.

The figures showed that 80% of NHS Trusts reported problems with ants, 66% with rats and 77% with mice.

Cockroaches were said to have been reported at 59% of trusts, fleas or other biting insects at 65%, and bed bugs at 24%.



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