Baby snake found under patient's bed

A Melbourne hospital has been forced to install barriers to keep out reptiles after a baby tiger snake was found under a patient's bed.

A snake handler caught and euthanised the reptile on Christmas Eve at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre in Kew.

It is not clear how long the 45cm baby snake had been there.

The hospital had already erected signs warning of snakes in the area, but it has now modified its doors to prevent future intrusions.