AN investigation is under way at the George Eliot Hospital after bins surrounding the main entrance were left to over flow with rubbish.
The shocking situation which saw the bins filled with drinks containers, fast food wrapping and cigarette butts, was highlighted to the Nuneaton News by outpatient Michael McMahon who had gone to the Trust for a routine blood test.
Despite not wishing to knock the hospital, which he says he owes a debt of gratitude to, he felt he had to highlight the situation.
"I owe a huge debt to George Eliot Hospital whose ICU provided first class treatment for me some years ago and am sad that they seem constantly under attack," he said.
"Nonetheless, they do often provide ammunition for people to attack them. I go to George Eliot Hospital for routine blood tests and aim to get there around 7am. Every time, I have found the area around the main entrance in a most unattractive and unhygienic state with overflowing waste bins and cigarette ends. I have always mentioned this to a member of hospital staff and asked for it to be reported."
After going along for his latest blood test, he again reported the situation to a passing staff member who he says thanked him for `drawing it to our attention'.
When he returned half an hour later and found nothing had changed, Mr McMahon took several photographs for the record and sent them to the Nuneaton News.
"A primary objective in the 'Health Business' has to be the achievement of clinical excellence but this cannot justify a disregard for basic housekeeping which is more easily achieved than the former," he added.
The News sent the images through to the hospital's director of technical services Teresa French who called the situation `unacceptable', and promptly launched an investigation.
"The Trust’s estates team aims to empty the bins at regular intervals throughout the day and upon request when they fill up," she said.
"However, the situation highlighted is unacceptable and falls below the standards we set ourselves. This is being investigated as a matter of urgency and I will see that our processes are altered to ensure the situation is addressed.
"We will also be issuing a message to our staff to remind them that they all have a responsibility to ensure our site is kept clean and presentable and remind them of the procedure for reporting such incidents to our estates department in future.”
