Trust fined for legionella levels

A hospital on Merseyside where two patients died of Legionnaires' disease has been fined almost £48,000.

Unsafe levels of bacteria were found in the water supply at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital in a probe by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The hospital, which admitted breaching health and safety law, stopped testing its water between 2006 and 2007, Liverpool Magistrates Court heard.

Two patients, one from Warrington and one from the Isle of Man, later died.

However during the hearing the HSE said it was unable to conclude whether the two patients, who both contracted Legionnaires' disease in early 2007, were infected at the hospital or elsewhere.

We were astonished to discover that the trust's management team took a decision to stop testing for the bacteria. Kevin Jones, HSE inspector

A spokesman for the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospitals NHS Trust denied a link between the water supply and the deaths and said the pair contracted the illness in their own communities.

HSE inspector Kevin Jones said: "It is almost beyond comprehension that Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospitals NHS Trust became so complacent about legionella in the water supply system."

The hospital pleaded guilty to breaching the Safety at Work Act 1974 and putting employees and the public at risk.

It was fined £35,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,862.

Mr Jones added: "We were astonished to discover that the trust's management team took a decision to stop testing for the bacteria.

"The hospital's water supply system was clearly at risk from legionella and so regular tests should have been carried out."