ONE of Scotland's busiest hospitals has had to call in infestation control teams to tackle a plague of rats in its grounds.

Patients at the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow spotted the vermin, near the Accident and Emergency Department, in Langside Road, and the rats have been seen in various locations around the hospital grounds during the day.

One patient said: "This really should not be happening in modern-day hospitals. It's a disgrace, more needs to be done to keep hospitals clean."

A health board spokeswoman said pest controllers were brought in immediately after the rats were discovered.

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "A rapid response service is in place so that if staff suspect any problems, experts are immediately called in. We also routinely inspect our sites for any pest control issues rather than wait for them to be reported."