‘RAHtatouille’: Rodent allegedly spotted at Royal Adelaide Hospital

After a rat was allegedly spotted at a major hospital, fears have been raised that there may be more.

Outrage has been sparked after a rodent was pictured running through a busy hospital.

A photo was posted to social media by account “Rattled Doc” this week showing a rat allegedly in the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

“Top tip to hospital managers: Cutting cleaners duties to save costs probably works out worse in the long term when it results in rodents in said hospitals,” the caption read.

“RAHtatouille! Im told the anaesthetists actually have one of theses under their scrub caps to direct them on the correct drug recipes,” the user added.

A photo of a rat at a major hospital has caused a stir. Picture: @rahttled — doc, X.

Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) Chief Executive Officer Emma McCahon said mice and other rodents are a “known issue” in Adelaide’s CBD and the parklands, which the Royal Adelaide Hospital borders.

“CALHN has a comprehensive plan in place across its hospitals to minimise the presence of pests,” she said.

“We work with professional contractors who as part of their program conduct daily visual inspections and use technology to monitor pest activity in real time.

“They also use baiting and trapping stations as a further prevention measure.”

Opposition leader David Speirs told the Adelaide Advertiser there are claims rodents were regularly spotted at the hospital.

“This disgusting picture appears to show a rodent at the RAH – a place where cleanliness is crucial to prevent the spread of disease and infection,” he said.

“What’s worse are claims that rodents are regularly spotted at the RAH because cleaners have been cut to save the hospital money.

“The RAH is already under huge amounts of pressure because of record ramping despite Peter Malinauskas’ promise to ‘fix it’.”

Adelaide opposition leader David Speirs claimed cost cuts for cleaning services means the rodents are commonplace at the hospital. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Central Adelaide Local Health Network reportedly has a plan in place to minimise pests across hospitals. Picture: NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Mr Speirs added “if you have a problem with one rodent, it is likely you have a problem with hundreds”

He also said the hospital is still “recovering” from a SafeWorkSA investigation into claims of “unsafe work conditions impacting the psychological health and safety of doctors and nurses”.

Health Minister Chris Picton dismissed claims of cost cuts to cleaners according to the Adelaide Advertiser.

“The Liberals actually put in their first budget cuts to (hospital) hotel services like cleaning – whereas Labor is investing record amounts in our public hospital,” he said.

“This issue is being managed by hospital managers and their contractors, so David Speirs might want to spend some time on the bigger issues confronting the future of the state.”