SOUTHEND Hospital has come under fire for hiring a falconer to release birds of prey to “terrorise” pigeons.

The hospital has faced criticism before for trapping and killing pigeons who nest on the high ledges of its building.

In response, the hospital has since changed its methods, but now a hawk is being let loose on the unsuspecting birds.

NHS bosses say the hawk is “well-trained” and any assertion that they are hunting pigeons is wrong.

Campaigners the Southend Animal Rights group say it causes fear and distress to birds.

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The group is calling on the hospital to stop the practice, saying members of the public had witnessed doves, pigeons and seagulls in distress after being chased off by a hawk.

A spokeswoman for the group said: “Southend Hospital were trapping and killing pigeons, after many e-mail exchanges and meetings held, they agreed they would no longer do this, and it was hoped they would work with Humane Wildlife Solutions to look into the ongoing issues they were having with pigeons roosting at the hospital and agree to deterrents that would not injure, distress or kill any of the birds.

“Unfortunately, the hospital has now employed the services of a falconer to scare, distress, maim and kill the birds with the use of a hawk he keeps in captivity.

“Members of the public have approached us and advised they’ve seen the falconer there on a regular basis and seen how distressed the seagulls, doves and pigeons become.

“They have even seen hospital staff laugh when the hawk has chased a pigeon.”

The spokeswoman added: “Using a hawk causes the birds distress. Seagulls become very protective and will start dive-bombing. If they have nesting young they get very distressed and young birds are very vulnerable.

“People who have been there when the hawk is there say they see eviscerated pigeons with their heads torn off.

“It’s not very nice for people to see that.”

The group says it and the Humane Wildlife Society has repeatedly tried to work with the hospital on alternative solutions.

A spokesman for the Mid and South Essex Hospital Trust, which runs Southend Hospital, said: “We take animal welfare very seriously, and would never allow hunting on our sites. We use falconry to scare pigeons and seagulls away, so they don’t litter our hospital sites.

“The hawks are extremely well trained, have only ever been used for pest control and are not used for hunting. They are fed by the handler and have no reason to find their own prey.”