Lawyers for victims of Van Gogh cruise ship illness 'incredulous' by unreported death of victim from norovirus
10/10/2006
We found you very professional as well as approachable, helpful and caring. We can now move on and look forward to a more stable and secure future. I am sure that this would not have happened without yourselves being involved.
Jayne, Evesham
Lawyers representing 25 victims
of the virus which hit the Dutch owned Van Gogh cruise ship have
reacted with incredulity following an inquest's finding that the doctor
aboard the ship did not report the death of one of the passengers, in
June this year, to the environmental health officer on its return to
Harwich, Essex.
A 78 year old retired primary school teacher, Mrs
Pat Horn, from Cheltenham died the day after developing symptoms of
sickness and diarrhoea, on board the Van Gogh cruise ship.
Outbreak of Norovirus on the Van Gogh
The
ship had seen a number of outbreaks of the Norovirus on board the Van
Gogh throughout May and June 2006. During the cruise taken by Mrs Horn
the ship was detained by the Maritime and coastguard agency on the
advice of the director of public health. While health inspectors
boarded the ship, the death of Mrs Horn was not reported to the
officials carrying out the inspection of the ship.
Lawyer representing Van Gogh cruise ship victims
Suki
Chhokar, a Partner with law firm Irwin Mitchell who are representing
other people who went on the ship, both at the same time as Mrs Horn
and also on further cruises in June, said "I simply cannot believe that
a ships doctor could fail to inform a health & safety inspector,
given that the Van Gogh cruise ship was returning to port due to
illness, and that the same doctor had treated the deceased as she
became ill on board."
"We are currently conducting a civil case
on behalf of our clients against the cruise operator Travelscope, and
the information given at the inquest this week certainly gives reason
for further serious concerns about health and safety procedures on
board the ship."
Mr Chhokar continued, "The reason that viruses
like the Norovirus are able to thrive on board these cruise ships is
the confined environment in which such a contagious bug can spread
easily. However these increased risks can and must be met with
increased safeguards to prevent people becoming seriously ill."
Mr
Chhokar is calling for slower turn around times whilst in port to allow
for the boats to be thoroughly cleaned before taking on new passengers
and more routine cleaning during the voyage.
"Basic food and
water hygiene levels must be in place and regular cleaning of key areas
such as the toilets and kitchens is essential. Once an outbreak has
been identified health advice must be given to all existing passengers
and any potential passengers joining the boat must be warned before
they embark. After an outbreak the boat must be deeply cleansed and
sanitised before any further passengers board."
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