HEALTH officials said last night that salmonella was responsible for a food poisoning outbreak that infected ten people at a North-East hospital restaurant.

Those affected, including two who needed hospital treatment, were staff and visitors who had eaten at Bede's Restaurant, at the University Hospital of North Durham, Durham City, one lunchtime last November.

All were said to have recovered fully. No patients were affected as their meals are prepared in a separate kitchen.

An investigation into the outbreak, which has only just been made public, has been continuing for some time and its findings are expected to be considered by the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals Trust next month.

The restaurant is run by Consort Healthcare, the company that leases the hospital, which opened in 2001, to the trust under a 30-year Private Finance Initiative scheme.

The company is jointly owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Balfour Beatty Group, whose subsidiaries built the hospital.

A trust spokesman said: "Ten people were affected by an outbreak of food poisoning on November 16, 2003.

"This outbreak was associated with meals eaten at the restaurant at the University Hospital of North Durham.

"Two people were admitted to hospital. All those affected have made a full recovery. No patients were affected.

"A report on the incident is being finalised. This will be presented to a public meeting of the trust board at the earliest possible opportunity."

The spokesman said it took time to carry out a thorough investigation.

A Consort Healthcare spokeswoman said the food poisoning was linked to one menu item.

"Since that time, there have been no further reported occurrences," she said.

"An environmental health officer has made a recent routine inspection, including the taking of food samples, and has made no further observation."

Durham City Council, whose environmental health officers have been involved in the investigation, declined to comment.