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Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s new contract for pest control services will be four times more expensive than its current agreement.

The health board’s upcoming contract for “preventative and reactive pest control services” for 2024 to 2026 will cost an estimated £320,000. 

In comparison, its previous contract, from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2024, has cost £59,622.49 to date.

Caerphilly Observer understands that the new contract, which is out for re-tender on Sell2Wales, has been calculated to account for additional expenses.

There is also scope to extend it for up to two years. 

The contract will cover pest services at around 50 heath board sites, including Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr and the Grange University Hospital. 

The successful provider will work to prevent pest problems at all sites and carry out frequent checks.

They will also deal with sudden pest problems, such as a bird flying through a window. 

“The new contract is different”

An ABUHB spokesperson said: “As a health board, we have a legal obligation to ensure that effective systems are in place to protect patients, staff and the public from infections and disease.

“An operational pest control contract is also required for compliance with the Care Inspectorate Wales standards.”

They continued: “Given the number of health board sites, their size, their location, and the activity that takes place within them; it is inevitable that pests are attracted to our sites.

“It is vital that we have a robust contract in place to support the removal of any pests and to maintain the safety of our premises and their occupants.

“It’s important to note that the scope of the new contract is different to the contract awarded in 2022. As the new contract includes additional services (e.g. servicing and cleaning of insectocutors and a quantity of bait boxes), as well as an increase in the number of planned preventative actions, the estimated value of this contract is inevitably higher than the previous contract.”