An exterminator will be visiting Nelson Hospital every day this week to keep on top of a wasp issue in one of the surgical wards.
More video sent to 1News from over the weekend show a possible nest of wasps in the ceiling of a room in Ward 10. It also shows a large number of dead wasps in a staff bathroom, after they were killed with fly spray.
In a statement, Health New Zealand told 1News: “The exterminator treated the areas of concern over the weekend and will return daily this week to assess and apply further treatment as required”.
As 1News reported last week, staff say there have been issues with wasps in wards 9 and 10 on and off for years. However, Health New Zealand said they’ve only had one report of wasps in the last 18 months.
Last Tuesday night, a staff member said around 30 were killed in Ward 10.
The wards in question are in the George Manson building, which has been found to be in the worst condition of any hospital building in the country.
Nelson Hospital is in line for a hospital redevelopment. Planning has been underway since at least 2017, however it keeps getting delayed.
The wasp issue follows a series of stories from 1News about extensive staffing issues and concerns around facilities at Nelson Hospital, which has prompted a senior team from Health New Zealand to fly in.