Two Manchester Royal Infirmary patients died from listeria after being served chicken mayo sandwiches in hospital

Two Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) patients died from listeria outbreak after being served chicken mayonnaise sandwiches in hospital. The two women have been pictured for the first time since their deaths in 2019.

Mother-of-four Beverley Sowah, 57, and mother-of-five Enid Heap, 84, both died from blood poisoning caused by listeria, it has now been confirmed. The joint inquests into the deaths of the two women began at Manchester Coroners’ Court today (March 11).

Both cases of listeriosis, caused by the bacteria listeria, are being linked to chicken mayonnaise sandwiches which were given to the women while they were admitted to wards at the MRI. In the days following their deaths, the listeria cases were found to be caused by the same type of bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes – which ‘indicated a common food source’, heard the court.

The source of the bacteria was linked to an external food supplier, not the kitchens at the hospital, the court was also told. A national investigation was then launched by public health officials ‘due to other cases that were identified across the country’, not just at the MRI.

READ MORE: 'Journey' of the hospital sandwich linked to two women's deaths to be examined

Jamaica-born retired nurse Ms Sowah, from Old Trafford, died on April 26, 2019 at MRI. She had been admitted to the hospital 11 days earlier as she was experiencing the final stages of advanced breast cancer.

Enid Heap, 84, a retired chemist from Beswick, died on May 6, 2019, at the same hospital. She had been admitted in March 2019 with breathing difficulties.

Manchester area coroner Zak Golombek opened the hearing by saying: “These cases concern the deaths of two individuals for whom there is a reason to suspect they died