KEETCH DISCUSSES DELAY WITH MINISTER OVER LEGIONNAIRES OUTBREAK

9.00.00am GMT Wed 12th Nov 2003

Hereford's Liberal Democrat MP Paul Keetch discussed the Legionnaires disease outbreak in Hereford with the Minister for Public Health, Melanie Johnson MP. She has assured him that all is being done to treat those who have contracted the disease, and to try to locate the source of the outbreak.

However, Mr Keetch is still concerned about the delay from officials in the Health Protection Agency (HPA) alerting the Herefordshire Council and Primary Care Trust (PCT) to the outbreak. He met officials from the agencies on Saturday in Hereford, and has been in regular contact with them since.

"The Minister and I agreed that everything had been done since the outbreak was notified to treat those infected and to ascertain the source", said Mr Keetch.

"Hereford is still a safe place to work, shop and visit. However there are some questions to be asked about the way in which the outbreak was dealt with.

"I cannot understand why, when the HPA knew on the 24th of October that two cases of Legionnaires disease were confirmed in Hereford, they did not pass that information on to other relevant authorities.

"GPs in Herefordshire were not told until the evening of the 6th of November, when further cases were confirmed. They were then able to look out for the disease amongst their patients. Herefordshire Council were also then able to start testing for the source.

"I am sure there is a reasonable explanation for this apparent delay and I am glad that the Minister has agreed to look into my concerns."