**Grandmother Left ‘Traumatised’ by Mouse Droppings While Receiving Hospital Care in Kent**
An elderly woman recovering from a serious fall at a hospital in Kent has described feeling “utterly terrified” after finding mouse droppings in her ward, prompting her to place a rodent trap beneath her bed as she sleeps. The alarming discovery has raised wider concerns about hygiene and patient welfare in NHS hospitals.
Eighty-two-year-old Christine Sandra Dobbs had been admitted to Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham, Kent, three weeks ago following a bad fall. Suffering from several chronic health conditions including diabetes, severe arthritis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Mrs Dobbs’s recovery has already been slow and challenging. The situation was made worse, however, when she discovered evidence of rodent activity close to her hospital bed.
After waiting over 24 hours for a hospital bed in the aftermath of her accident, Mrs Dobbs had hoped that some comfort and security would be restored once on the ward. Instead, last Sunday, she made a distressed phone call to her daughter, Chelsey Field, to report having found mouse droppings in the hospital drawers where her clothing was being stored.
“I could hear in her voice that she was absolutely beside herself,” said Ms Field, 51, speaking from her home in Sittingbourne. “She called me in tears saying that she wanted to leave, that she couldn’t cope. She was terrified and desperate to get out.” The pair communicated by video call, during which Chelsey could see her mother was visibly shaken. She recounted that upon further investigation, her mother realised rodents had made their way into her belongings, leaving droppings over freshly laundered underwear and throughout the storage units.
Family members immediately raised the alarm with hospital staff, who responded by supplying plastic containers to protect patients’ personal effects. Nonetheless, Ms Field said the distress endured by her mother and other patients was palpable, claiming many remained anxious about further sightings. Despite ongoing monitoring by staff, the physical and psychological impact of the incident appeared significant for those on the ward.
Chelsey explained that some patients, already vulnerable due to illness, had died on the ward during her mother’s stay, and she expressed concern over the indignity of such experiences in one’s final days. “To think that people could spend their last moments in fear of rodents is truly disturbing,” she said.
Hospital management has since confirmed that no further mouse activity has been reported over the last two days. Nonetheless, the entire episode has left Ms Dobbs desperate to return home, although her health circumstances necessitate the assistance of two carers—support her family have not been able to secure.
Feeling the issue required urgent attention, Chelsey Field has submitted a formal complaint via the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). She is calling on authorities to allocate additional resources to help improve cleanliness and overall upkeep within NHS facilities, stating: “It’s simply wrong that any patient should have to endure such disgusting conditions. These are places of healing, but my mother has been left terrified.”
The incident has prompted discussions about NHS funding and priorities, particularly in maintaining hygiene and ensuring a sense of safety for vulnerable patients. Ms Field further argued that increased funding should go towards basic matters such as cleanliness and pest control, underlining that these issues are not just about comfort, but about dignity and health.
Responding to the controversy, Darren Palmer, Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Site Director of Operations at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, issued a statement: “We are very sorry for any distress caused. Our estates and facilities teams, alongside pest control specialists, have carried out additional cleaning and are closely monitoring the area. We encourage anyone spotting further evidence to report it immediately, so we can continue to maintain the strictest standards of cleanliness.”
While rodent issues in UK hospitals are not unheard of, they remain a source of anxiety for patients and families. Many are now watching closely to see what steps will be taken to ensure this experience is not repeated—at Medway Maritime or elsewhere in the NHS estate. For now, Christine Dobbs continues her recovery, hopeful for a safe return home, and a more reassuring environment for all those in care.