NHS health scare as staff secretly let stray CAT chase rats and prowl around A&E wards
Trust chiefs were said to have 'gone nuts' over the infection risk and ordered a deep clean at Epsom Hospital, Surrey after spotting paw prints on fresh bed sheets
NHS staff have been secretly keeping a stray cat in a hospital and letting him prowl around A&E.
They bought a basket, food and scratch pad for moggie Monty — who managers found sleeping in a linen cupboard during a routine check.
Trust chiefs have “gone nuts” over the infection risk and ordered a deep clean at Epsom Hospital, Surrey.
Infection control experts said the staff’s behaviour was “beyond belief”.
They were rumbled after managers found Burmese Monty asleep in a linen cupboard during a routine check.
An internal investigation was launched and a porter, who had worked at the hospital for 28 years, was sacked.
He had been filmed by CCTV sitting on a hospital bed stroking the cat.
A union rep’s letter to staff said: “The Trust Board have gone nuts that a cat should be in the hospital. They are looking for the culprit.
“If you are seen in an NHS hospital sitting stroking a cat when you should be at work, it’s a hard argument to win.”
Prof Hugh Pennington, an infection control expert said: “It is beyond belief hospital staff would dream of homing a cat.
“Hospitals are supposed to be spotlessly clean to limit the spread of infection. The cat could be shedding hair, carrying fleas or leaving poo around.”
Photos obtained by The Sun show Monty in a stand-off with a rat and on a desk in an office.
Monty’s real owner, who lives nearby, was traced when it was found the cat had a microchip.
Police even investigated claims the cat was kept captive because it failed to return to its owner.
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