Therapy dog Molly is banned from hospital amid hygiene concerns

A THERAPY dog for hospital patients suffering from dementia has been banned after it became “overeager” with staff who offered it treats.

Molly, a seven-year-old Labrador, is no longer allowed to interact with patients amid hygiene concerns at Western Isles Hospital, Stornoway.

A previous HEI report in May this year had demanded the health board implement a policy for animal therapy visits which had “sufficient control measures to reduce the risk of infection to patients.”

Molly was brought to the hospital’s Clisham ward so elderly dementia sufferers could have the chance to pet her to reduce feelings of anxiety.

An HEI report published Mon Monday said inspectors had discussed the animal policy with staff at the hospital during an unannounced inspection on 8 October this year.

The report said: “The dog that currently visits the hospital is not registered with an approved scheme, such as ‘Pets as Therapy’ or ‘Therapet’.

“Some of the staff we spoke with were concerned about the current dog that visits the hospital as it had been overeager with staff when they offered it treats.

“As a result, staff had stopped all patient interaction with the dog.”

The report recommended future visiting pets be part of the “Therapet” or “Pets as Therapy” schemes to ensure the animals had the proper health checks.

It also recommended NHS Western Isles discuss the use of therapy pets with other health boards.

The HEI also issued a “high priority” requirement for the health board to implement a new policy for decontaminating nasendoscopes – probes inserted into patients’ noses.

NHS Western Isles last year announced they were introducing a “visiting therapy dog” at the 116-bed hospital in the hope she would boost “calm and wellbeing” among patients.