Businessman, 52, WAS killed by listeria: Tests confirm first victim named during NHS scandal ate ‘same batch of contaminated sandwiches eaten by five other hospital patients’
- Businessman Ian Hitchcock, 52, died at the Royal Derby Hospital last week
- He contracted listeria while receiving treatment in the hospital for cancer
- He is one of six fatalities linked to the deadly NHS food poisoning outbreak
- Brother Alan told Mail this year: ‘It’s shocking he died from eating a sandwich’
A businessman feared to have been killed by a hospital sandwich carrying listeria did die because of his NHS meal, tests confirmed today.
Ian Hitchcock, 52, died in June after eating a contaminated meal while at the Royal Derby Hospital – a scandal that allegedly claimed the lives of six people in the UK.
He had been admitted on May 15 after being diagnosed with liver cancer the previous week.
Mr Hitchcock was named as one of the victims of the listeria outbreak at hospitals across the UK – linked to pre-packaged sandwiches and salads linked to the same supplier, The Good Food Chain.
His family said he had contracted the infection after his liver cancer diagnosis and was later transferred to the Nottingham City Hospital, where he died on June 8.
Beverley Sowah, 57, Enid Heap, 84, and Brenda Elmer, 81, are the only other people named after they died in the outbreak which has prompted a ‘root and branch’ review of catering in hospitals.
Ian Hitchcock, 52, died after eating a pre-packaged sandwich while being treated for cancer at the Royal Derby Hospital last week. His death is being linked to an NHS listeria outbreak which has so far claimed five lives
Now a coroner has lifted a restriction which banned the media from reporting that 52-year-old Mr Hitchcock died from listeria after the infection was listed as one of two causes of death – the other being liver failure.
WHAT IS LISTERIOSIS?
Most people that catch listeriosis, caused by bacteria called listeria, will only experience mild symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
Other symptoms of the infection can include a high temperature of 38C or above, aches and pains, and chills, according to the NHS.
Listeria monocytogenes (stock) as found in the pre-packaged food sold at hospitals
However, more serious complications can develop in those with weakened immune systems, babies, the elderly and pregnant women.
Many foods can harbour listeria, but it is usually found in unpasteurised milk, soft cheeses and ready-to-eat foods, such as prepacked sandwiches.
Listeria is widespread in the environment and can be found in raw food and soil, and in the droppings of many mammals, birds, and fish.
Around 180 cases of listeriosis are confirmed every year in England, according to figures. It strikes around 850 annually in the US.
HOW CAN YOU AVOID LISTERIOSIS?
- wash your hands regularly with soap and water
- wash fruit and vegetables before eating them
- store ready-to-eat foods as recommended by the manufacturer
- make sure all hot food is steaming hot all the way through
Dr Robert Hunter banned the publication ‘by any means whatsoever’ that the businessman died from listeria until the cause of death was established under Section 4(2) of the Contempt of Court Act 1981.
Mr Hunter did tell the inquest that it was not in dispute that Mr Hitchcock had contracted listeria.
The NHS identified University Hospitals of Derby and Burton as one of the hospital trusts affected by a patient death.
There were also two deaths at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, one at Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool, and one at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.
Three other trusts had diagnosed listeria cases linked to the outbreak with no deaths – two at Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, one case at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, and one at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has previously warned there will be ‘severe consequences’ if there is evidence of ‘wrongdoing’ over the listeria outbreak.
The Good Food Chain, which supplied 43 NHS trusts across the UK as well as one independent provider, voluntarily ceased production and Public Health England (PHE) said the investigation into the outbreak is continuing.
The business was supplied with meat produced by North Country Cooked Meats, which has since tested positive for the outbreak strain of listeria and also stopped production.
Listeria infection is rare and usually causes a mild illness in healthy people.
However, it can have more serious consequences among those with pre-existing medical conditions, pregnant women and those with a weak immune system.
There are concerns that leaving packs sat on trolleys in high temperatures for long periods allows dangerous bugs to multiply. Food manufacturers and hospitals were warned seven years ago not to serve ready-made sandwiches to vulnerable patients, such as those with a suppressed immune system or the elderly, because of the listeria risk