A bacteria was found in the water systems of a Nottinghamshire mental health hospital, it has emerged. Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust carried out testing of Sherwood Oaks' water systems and decided to temporarily suspend new inpatient admissions as a precautionary measure on December 23 last year.
The trust detected legionella bacteria in the system which supplies the hospital building in Mansfield. Hospital bosses have stressed there are no suspected cases of infection from legionella in patients or staff.
Infection is caused by breathing in small droplets of water contaminated by the bacteria. Common symptoms include coughing, breathlessness, high fever, muscle aches and headaches and usually appear five to six days after infection but may take longer.
