Statement - Hotel cleared to reopen

4 December 2009

Following a risk assessment, it was agreed that the Scarisbrick Hotel in Southport could reopen on Saturday 5 December.

The hotel closed voluntarily on Wednesday 2 December after an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea affected guests and staff.

Dr. Evdokia Dardamissis, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control with the Health Protection Agency, said: "We agreed with the management that the hotel could re-open as they had followed our advice. The premises had been thoroughly cleaned throughout and there had been no ill people in the hotel for 72 hours. We are satisfied that all reasonable precautions have been taken to safeguard guests and staff."

Dr. Dardamissis stressed that good hygiene is the key to avoiding infection. This includes thorough hand washing, especially after using the toilet, before and after handling or preparing food and before eating.

Contaminated surfaces should be thoroughly disinfected after an episode of illness and the patient should not prepare food for others until three days after the symptoms have cleared up.

Notes to editors

Press release issued by Hugh Lamont, Communications Manager, HPA North West. Tel 0151-482-5728 or 07764-906505.

Last reviewed: 9 December 2009