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Home > Freedom of Information > Disclosure log > EIR220171: Use of herbicides on hospital grounds

EIR220171: Use of herbicides on hospital grounds

Released 1 July 2022

Request:

This is a request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. I would like to request the following information:

  1. What is your policy for weed control in the hospital’s grounds?
  2. Do you use herbicides containing glyphosate eg Roundup, Weedol etc. If yes, what do you use? What areas have been sprayed with herbicides containing glyphosate?
  3. What is your policy on the use of glyphosate?
  4. What precautions were taken ahead of its use?
  5. For the calendar years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, please can you tell me:
    1. The volume of these herbicides you have you used
    2. The cost

Information disclosed:

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 April 2021, with the merger of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust and Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. 

  1. The Trust does not currently have a formal policy document that applies specifically to weed control on hospital grounds. Regulation 12(4)(a) [Information not held] of the EIR applies. 
    Wherever possible, weeds are controlled using mechanical means (e.g. strimmers), but when necessary weed killer is used on hard standing areas such as pathways during the growing season.
  2. Yes – Gallup is used at Worthing, Southlands and St Richard’s Hospitals; Monsanto Glyphosate is used at the Princess Royal Hospital and Royal Sussex County Hospital.  Please see answer to question 1 regarding their use.
  3. The Trust does not currently have a formal policy document regarding the use of glyphosate. Regulation 12(4)(a) [Information not held] of the EIR is applicable.
  4. The products mentioned in response to question 2 above are not used on windy or rainy days, not emptied into drains and are only stored in their original container.  Users of these products are instructed to wear eye protection, nitrile rubber gloves and wash their hands after application.
  5. Neither University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, nor the legacy Trusts (see note above), maintained a record of the specific volumes of these products used over these periods. Regulation 12(4)(a) [Information not held] of the EIR is applicable.  We can provide the number of units ordered and overall cost as an alternative if you wish to revise this part of your request.   
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