As a result, the union filed a compliant with the California Department of Public Health alleging unsafe and unsanitary conditions at the hospital.
According to the compliant, an employee found more than 50 maggots in a patient’s mouth and nose in February. Also, in April, a nurse found maggots floating in the soup served in the cafeteria.
A hospital spokesman, David Silver, told the Los Angeles Times that the union’s allegations are made up. “It’s totally false; they are lying,” he told the paper.
Other, non-maggot-related violations documented in the complaint include the treatment of emergency department patients in the unsanitized hallways of the ED, and transporting patients using an uncertified vehicle.
SEIU-UHW is currently in a labor dispute with the hospital.
More articles on patient safety:
Daily CHG bathing of pediatric patients helps drop CLABSIs by 59%, study finds
Improving laundry process can help fight hospital infections: 7 best practices
Martha’s Vineyard Hospital issues measles alert: 5 things to know
