Legionella bacteria found at Ludlow Hospital

The Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust has said that it is not the type which causes Legionnaires' disease, such as that found in The Feathers Hotel in the town.

A woman in her 60s from Merseyside, contracted Legionnaires' disease while staying at the hotel and died in July.

In April, a guest also contracted the waterborne disease but survived.

But the trust says that the bacteria found in the hospital is not connected to that at The Feathers Hotel.

Spokesman for Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, Chris Hudson, said: “Routine water samples taken from Ludlow Hospital have identified a type of Legionella.

"The type of Legionella found is not the type which causes Legionnaires’ disease. Patients, staff and visitors are not at risk.

"We would like to reassure the public that this is in no way connected to the outbreak which has been reported at the Feathers Hotel in Ludlow.”