​Hospital-Linked Listeria Outbreak Claims Lives, Inquest Finds

An inquest into the tragic deaths of two patients at Manchester Royal Infirmary reveals a concerning link to chicken mayonnaise sandwiches tainted with listeria. Beverley Sowah, a 57-year-old retired nurse, and Enid Heap, an 84-year-old mother of five, succumbed to the infection after consuming the sandwiches while hospitalised in 2019. Both victims, facing pre-existing health challenges, died amid a nationwide alert for the listeria outbreak.

Investigations pinpointed the contamination source to an external food supplier, absolving the hospital's kitchens. The inquest, involving a jury and examining the supply chain, disclosed that North Country Quality Food and the Good Food Chain played roles in supplying and manufacturing the implicated sandwiches. Despite rigorous production, both companies have since been liquidated.

Listeria, a bacteria capable of causing severe illness in vulnerable individuals, became the focal point of a broad inquiry after identical genetic strains were discovered in related outbreaks. This has prompted a national review led by public health authorities to prevent future tragedies.

As the inquest unfolds, it casts a spotlight on the critical importance of food safety, especially in healthcare settings where the risk to patients is heightened.

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