A HEALTH BOARD has been criticised after inspectors found ready-to-eat food refrigerated beneath raw meat, four years since it was told that major food hygiene improvements needed to be made there.

The Food Hygiene Standards Agency inspected Denbigh Infirmary in February, finding doughnuts refrigerated beneath raw meat and mouldy raspberries and peppers in its chilled preparation room.

The unannounced inspection also found a pack of cooked wafer-thin sliced beef with a use-by date of three days had been open for four, while 14 boiled eggs had been left out of the fridge overnight.

In 2015 the community hospital was given a one out of five rating which states ‘major improvement necessary’. Following the recent inspection, it was given a rating of two, indicating ‘improvement necessary’.

The inspection report comes amid heavy criticism of the NHS after nine patients died from listeria related to pre-packed food in recent months.

Chris Ruane, MP for the Vale of Clywd, said: “The latest report is obviously of concern to all of those who use the hospital, especially given the report a few years ago. I would have hoped the health board would have taken on board all the comments from the previous report and ensured all those who used the facilities were aware of what needed to be done to improve standards.

“Denbigh Infirmary is an excellent facility with excellent staff but this is obviously an issue which needs addressing as soon as possible.”

Rhys Thomas, county councillor for Denbigh Lower, said he will raise the issues at the next council meeting.

“There needs to be an explanation as to how this was allowed to happen,” he said.

Mark Young, county councillor for Denbigh Lower, said he was “confident” that improvements have already been made after the inspection, which can be continued in a long-term plan.

A Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board spokesperson said: “As part of the Primary Authority Scheme arrangements we have in place with Wrexham Borough Council, we have worked with the Primary Authority Environmental Health Officer to address all of the issues highlighted at Denbigh Infirmary and we are currently awaiting re-inspection.

“Our Primary Authority has given assurance that the hospital is fully compliant with all requirements of the Food Safety Act.”