Listeria death at Leicester Hospital

Public Health England have confirmed that one of the five people known to have died following a Listeria outbreak was being treated in Leicester.

The NHS and Public Health England have also confirmed that individuals died after being treated at University Hospitals Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust in the Midlands. 

The news comes after the NHS announced on 7th June that two people had died in Manchester and one in Liverpool following the outbreak thought to be linked to pre-packaged sandwiches and salads. Five people are now known to have died. 

Carolyn Fox, Chief Nurse at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said: 

“We are deeply saddened to learn that one of our patients had contracted listeria before they died. Our deepest sympathies go to their family as they grieve the loss of their loved one.”

“We are working with Public Health England whilst they’re investigation is ongoing.”

“As soon as we were made aware of the outbreak we immediately removed all traces of the sandwiches that may have been connected with the original supplier and have stopped using the supplier.”

NHS England and NHS Improvement and the FSA can confirm that the Good Food Chain supplied affected product lines to the following 43 NHS Trusts, plus one independent provider. The outbreak investigation continues and the public health risk remains low.

• North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
• East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
• The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
• Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust
• Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
• Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Lewisham and Greenwich Hospital NHS Trust
• Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
• Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
• Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• Leicester Partnership NHS Trust
• Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
• University Hospitals Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
• University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
• Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
• Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
• The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
• Aintree University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
• Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• East Cheshire NHS Trust
• Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
• Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
• North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
• Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Weston Area Health NHS Trust
• Virgin (Farnham Hospital) - independent provider

"The outbreak has been linked to The affected sandwiches and salads were withdrawn from hospitals when the links to the listeria infections were first identified and the multi-agency team then advised NHS organisations not to provide any Good Food Chain products to vulnerable patients. Evidence suggests that all individuals ate the affected products before the withdrawal took place in hospitals on the 25 May 2019. The food chain investigations continue."

"Sandwiches and salads linked to the patients have been withdrawn and the supplier, The Good Food Chain, has voluntarily ceased production while the investigation continues. This business had been supplied with meat produced by North Country Cooked Meats which subsequently produced a positive test result for the outbreak strain of listeria. This business and North Country Quality Foods who they distribute through, have also voluntarily ceased production."