North. “A real hell”: a Lille hospital invaded by cockroaches?

Many departments of a hospital in Lille (North), as well as the homes of some staff, are reportedly infested with cockroaches, the CGT union at the hospital has denounced.

According to the management of the University Hospital, the situation has "returned to normal." Illustrative photo Sipa/Caro/Geilert

"A real invasion." In a press release, the CGT union at the Albert-Calmette Hospital in Lille (Nord) denounced the presence of cockroaches "in the hospital's care units and adjoining areas" on Tuesday. "Not only do these insects pose a hygiene (damage to packaging and food, attract other pests) and health (transmission of various diseases) problem, but they have also become a living hell for hospital staff," wrote the CGT union.

On August 12, the union explained that several departments were affected, including sensitive ones like intensive care in cardiology or post-operative care. "They nest in clothes, shoes, we even found them in the laundry," a nursing assistant told France 3. The CGT union claims that CHU workers have even found cockroaches in their vehicles and homes. "Many of them have spent significant sums of money trying to eradicate these pests," the union further laments.

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According to local media, the university hospital management was first alerted to the presence of these insects in mid-July. Contacted by our colleagues at France 3, they assured that "the situation has almost returned to normal to date" thanks to the eradication treatments implemented. They also said that patients can visit the university hospital "without concern."

But the CGT union responded that cockroaches were still found last weekend by staff. Furthermore, the union partially denounced the CHU's response, "which clearly implies that it is the staff and patients who bring them from their homes." The union also deplores the management's failure to respond to requests to cover the cost of eradicating cockroaches from staff members' homes and vehicles.