THE hospital trust running Kidderminster Hospital received sandwiches from the company connected to the listeria outbreak.

Eight hospitals in seven NHS trusts have reported cases of listeria linked to pre-packed sandwiches and salads eaten by patients.

The list includes Leicester Royal Infirmary and two hospitals in Western Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, along with hospitals in Liverpool, Manchester and Wexham.

A cancer patient whose death has been linked to the listeria outbreak has recently been named as Ian Hitchcock, 52, who was being treated at Derby's Royal Hospital after being diagnosed with liver cancer.

In a statement, the businessman's family said he contracted Listeria and was transferred to Nottingham City Hospital, where he died on June 8.

In total nine patients have been affected, of whom five have died.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, which manages the Kidderminster Hospital, has been named as one of the trusts which had food supplied by The Good Food Chain.

It was quick to point out that it has not had any cases of listeria reported in any of its hospitals, which includes Redditch's Alexandra Hospital, and the Worcestershire Royal.

Public Health England has said the health risk to the public remains low, and individuals should only seek medical attention if they develop symptoms.

Vicky Morris, chief nursing officer of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We are one of a number of NHS trusts which received pre-packed sandwiches supplied by the Good Food Chain.

"However, we have not had any cases of listeria reported in our hospitals. As soon as we were alerted to the outbreak at another hospital, we immediately withdrew all sandwiches from this supplier."

Listeria is a bug that can cause an illness like the flu.

It can be dangerous for a number of groups including pregnant women, unborn babies and new babies and people who are unwell.