Beverley Sowah and Enid Heap acquired listeria from the contaminated food at Manchester Royal Infirmary
Two women died after eating chicken mayonnaise sandwiches contaminated with listeria at Manchester Royal Infirmary, an inquest jury has concluded. Retired Jamaican nurse Beverley Sowah, 57, from Stretford, and mother-of-five Enid Heap, 84, from Beswick, were given the sandwiches on successive days while patients at the MRI in 2019.
They were then supplied to Sodexo - contracted to supply the NHS trust running the MRI - then given to Mrs Sowah and Mrs Heap. Both women acquired listeria from the contaminated food, which 'more than minimally' contributed to their deaths, jurors decided. After the inquest concluded Manchester city coroner Zak Golombeck told the families: “I hope in time you can all remember your loved ones for the happy memories that you all spent together.”
Earlier the inquest heard North Country Quality Foods was found to be the earliest point in the supply chain where listeria matching the outbreak strain was detected, with their chicken supplied to the Good Food Chain the sandwich makers.