Sixth hospital patient death linked to listeria outbreak

A sixth hospital patient has died following an outbreak of listeria linked to pre-packed sandwiches served in hospitals.

The individual, one of nine previously confirmed cases, is believed to have contracted listeriosis from the Good Food Chain products while under the care of Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Public Health England said today that while its investigations continue, no new cases have been linked to the outbreak, with all the patients identified having contracted the disease between 20 April and 2 June.

The first instances, identified in May, prompted the immediate withdrawal of the Good Food Chain products and the voluntary ceasing of all its operations. The company has since ceased trading and gone into liquidation, despite the Food Standards Agency (FSA) finding it was not the primary source of the outbreak.

Meat used in its pre-packaged sandwiches and salads was supplied by North Country Cooked Meats, which produced a positive test result for the outbreak strain of listeria. North County Cooked Meats and North Country Quality Foods, through whom it distributes, have voluntarily ceased production.

In the wake of the outbreak, health secretary Matt Hancock called for a "root and branch review" of hospital food.

Two more patients die following listeria outbreak linked to hospital sandwiches >>