London Assembly member for Bexley and Bromley, James Cleverly, has condemned findings of an investigation into the cleanliness of London's hospitals.
The information, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act has revealed that hospitals across London have experienced infestations of rats, mice, cockroaches and other pests between January 2006 and April 2008.
Commenting on these findings, Mr Cleverly said:
"These findings are truly shocking. This report, about hospital services in London, reveals cleanliness problems that include instances of mice, maggots, cockroaches, ants and wasps at no fewer than 22 London NHS Trusts.
"As the London Assembly member for Bexley and Bromley I was particularly alarmed to read that Queen Mary's, Sidcup, has had to call in pest control experts on 26 occasions between January 2006 - April 2008; while Bromley Hospitals has had to make 74 similar calls.
"This is a damning indictment of the Government's health policy. And it comes on the back their much-vaunted deep cleans; clearly they didn't have the impact we were promised.
"People go into hospital to get well, not to be confronted by a vermin infestation. The Department for Health must act decisively and act now to remedy this appalling situation."

James Cleverly, London Assembly member for Bexley and Bromley has welcomed the publication of a forensic audit of the Greater London Authority and the organisations it controls.
Speaking on the day of report's publication, Mr Cleverly said:
"This report is damning of the previous administration and the way to squandered vast sums of money.
"The report said that the LDA, which it described as lacking any mechanism to restrict the absolute power of the Mayor, has since 2000 spent over £3billion of public money to little effect.
"And yet today, after all these billions of pounds have been spent the report says that 30% of Londoners of working age are unemployed. This is absolutely disgraceful. So I warmly welcome Boris's determination to tackle the profligacy of the Livingstone years and deliver value for money for my constituents and London as a whole."