Rats! Photo posted to social media appears to show an unwelcome visitor in Royal Adelaide Hospital

A rat has been captured scurrying around an office space at the RAH, prompting warnings from a health boss as well as the opposition leader.

It’s being called RAHtatouille — a photo purportedly taken at the Royal Adelaide Hospital which seems to show a rodent.

The photo with a headline “RAHtatouille!” posted to social media platform X by user “Rattled Doc” appears to show a rodent and is accompanied by the words: “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.”

It does not say where in the $2.7bn RAH the photo was taken.

Central Adelaide Local Health Network chief executive Emma McCahon told The Advertiser: “Mice and other rodents are a known issue in Adelaide’s Central Business District 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.

“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.”

User “Rattled Doc” has posted a photo on X claiming it is a rodent at the RAH.

User “Rattled Doc” has posted a photo on X claiming it is a rodent at the RAH.

Opposition leader David Speirs said “if you have a problem with one rodent, it is likely you have a problem with hundreds”.

“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’.

“It’s also still recovering from a SafeWorkSA investigation into claims of unsafe workplace conditions impacting the psychological health and safety of doctors and nurses.

South Australian Liberal leader David Speirs. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Ambulances parked at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Picture: NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

“This latest blow to the RAH is hard to stomach.”

Health Minister Chris Picton said: “David Speirs can’t resist any opportunity to be small minded so it’s no surprise his main issue of the week is a mouse found in an office area.

“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.

“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.”

The recent River Murray floods have been blamed for a surge in rodent activity in Adelaide suburbs.

The rodent issue emerged on yet another day when the RAH emergency department was treating more people than its official capacity.

SA Health’s website has an information page on rodents with advice on how to avoid problems.

“Feral rats and mice are very adaptable public health pests,” it states.

“They are not fussy eaters and can make themselves at home in houses, sheds, garages and gardens. As well as causing unpleasant odours and damage to property and possessions, feral rodents can also pose a risk to human health.”

It notes native rodents such as Hopping Mice pose little or no threat to public health and should be left alone but feral rodents carry diseases such as leptospirosis and typhus fever and can contaminate food with their hair, droppings and urine, resulting in food poisoning and spoilage.

“These pests will eat rubbish, pet food, food scraps, composts, fallen fruit and nuts, bird seed and dog faeces,” SA Health warns. “Rats will travel up to several house blocks to find water and food.”

Originally published as Rats! Photo posted to social media appears to show an unwelcome visitor in Royal Adelaide Hospital