Retired nurse and mum both died after eating hospital sandwiches, inquest told

11 March 2024 , 22:05

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Enid Heap was served pre-packed sandwiches, the inquest heard

Two women died after eating hospital chicken mayo sandwiches suspected of containing listeria, an inquest heard.

The deaths of retired Jamaican nurse Beverley Sowah, 57, and mum-of-five Enid Heap, 84, prompted a nationwide alert and listeria outbreak investigation. The bacteria source was linked to an external food supplier, not the kitchens at Manchester Royal Infirmary where the women, who had underlying conditions, were patients in 2019, the court heard.

The inquest was told the meat supplier and the sandwich maker have since gone into liquidation. Listeria can cause listeriosis, which is potentially fatal for those with weakened immune systems.Mrs Sowah had advanced breast cancer and died nine days after eating the sandwich.

The women were patients at Manchester Royal Infirmary (MEN MEDIA)

Retired chemist shop assistant Mrs Heap, died 18 days after having the chicken mayo snack. The hearing was told the Manchester and a Liverpool listeria outbreak had the same genetic link and the Health and Safety Executive investigated due to cases in other locations.

Manchester city coroner Zak Golombeck said of the deaths: “There is reason to suspect, they died of a notifiable disease, namely listeria.” The women’s joint inquest is set to continue until Friday.

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Dr Kirsty Dodgson, consultant microbiologist at the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the MRI, said in a statement a number of outbreak meetings were held to identify the source of the listeria and the Health and Safety Executive and Public Health England became involved.

Hollie Bone