A team of investigators has been unable to identify how food poisoning broke out at a North-East hospital.

The inquiry into the salmonella outbreak at the University Hospital of North Durham last November concluded that it was highly likely that the outbreak was linked with eating food from the hospital restaurant on Sunday, November 16.

After a thorough investigation of the outbreak, the team was unable to come to any clear conclusion about the exact way in which food became contaminated.

But the team concluded that the outbreak revealed a failure of routine hazard control systems within the kitchen.

Ten people were affected by the outbreak. Two people were admitted to hospital. Everyone affected by food poisoning has made a full recovery.

An outbreak control team was set up to investigate the outbreak.

Because the NHS hospital was built as part of the controversial Private Finance Initiative, the private sector partners, Consort and Haden were involved.

They advised that the management structure and supervision within the hospital's kitchen should be strengthened to prevent the opportunity for future errors that could cause food borne illness.

A detailed catering action plan is being implemented at the hospital to guard against any future outbreaks.

The team included officials from the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, the Health Protection Agency, Durham council, Derwentside council, Consort Health Care and Haden Building Management.