Lewisham Hospital Pic: Claire Finney

Improved kitchen areas have been promised by Lewisham Hospital after local authority health inspectors discovered an infestation of cockroaches, mice and ‘’unacceptable cleaning standards.’’

The hospital said it was spending £500,000 on improving its kitchen facilities for patients after the Lewisham Council environmental health inspection.

The Inspectors found cockroaches on the premises, including a nymph with the potential to breed while “evidence of mice activity was found throughout the kitchen and main food stores”.

There was also a  “significant need’’ to review cleaning methods owing to high levels of bacteria on a surface used for raw meat preparation.

The Inspectors said the findings, based on a visit in October 2011 were of  “great concern” as they “compromise food safety, and expose food to significant risk of contamination”.

A spokesman for Lewisham Hospital said ‘’urgent action’’ had been taken to deal with the issues.

The spokesman stressed the work was commended by  the same environmental health department in December 2011 which had given the hospital a rating of ‘Good’ for food hygiene.

The hospital said a specialist company, Initial Facilities Healthcare had been appointed in February this year to further improve the quality of such support services.

The spokesman added: ‘’They are carrying out a £0.5million upgrade of the kitchen facilities, which will be completed in July 2012.”

By Sean Lindholm