Cockroaches infest Hull hospital kitchen, employees warn

Hull Hospital employees are warning of a cockroach infestation in the facility's kitchen anddenouncing administrators for failing to act quickly.

Although staff firstnoticedthe pests last October and November, the signs of an infestation have been clear since February, said Jose McMillan, president of the Syndicat des travailleurs et des travailleuses de la sant et des services sociaux de l'Outaouais (STTSSSO), the union representing the hospital's non-medical staff.

"As soon as they lift anything, cockroaches pour out from underneath," McMillan said in French.

There are so many cockroaches, according to McMillan, that employees have resorted to catching the pests in containers, then dumping them into a garbage pail that's emptied daily.

The union first alerted the regional health authority theCentre intgr de lasantet des services sociaux de l'Outaouais (CISSO) in early February.

Although an exterminator wasdispatched to the hospitalthree times in as many weeks, McMillansaid employees have seen no signs of improvement.

'Problem has been solved'

Julie Whissell, CISSO'sassistant director of technical services and logistics, says the centre acted immediately to stop the infestation.

"As of yesterday, the problem has been solved," Whissellsaid in French on Friday. "We are in control of the situation and there absolutely no more issues when it comes to the food service."

The hospital continues to work to clean the kitchen, removing unused equipment and accessories, Whissell said.

In an email to Radio-Canada, the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said it had not received any complaints about cockroaches in the Hull hospital's kitchen.

However, the ministrysaid the CISSO had itself notified provincial officials about the problem, adding that an inspector is following upwith the hospital.