07 October 2008Infectious diseases
Your GP, doctor or hospital will inform the the Kent Health Protection Unit if you have an illness such as one of those listed below. The Unit is responsible for the surveillance, investigation, prevention and control of communicable disease in Kent.
These reports are passed to Sevenoaks District Council’s Environmental Health Team for investigation to contain the infection especially if food handlers, healthcare workers or children are involved.
If an outbreak is discovered, we try to find out which foods and businesses were involved, working with other councils as necessary. We are looking to prevent the infection spreading and put in measures to stop outbreaks happening in the future.
Investigation could lead to food being seized and a business being closed down or taken to court.
Members of the public can also contact us directly if they think they have contracted food poisoning (although we can not investigate fully unless their doctor has confirmed the diagnosis).
These are some of the illnesses notified to the Local Authority; click on each one for more information.
Occupational diseases
If you are diagnosed with either a serious infection or occupational disease related to your workplace, your doctor must notify your employer who, in turn, must notify RIDDOR. Sevenoaks District Council's Health and Safety Team investigate serious infections (such as Legionnaires Disease) or occupational diseases related to the workplace as part of on-going surveillance, investigation, prevention and control under current Health and Safety legislation. Some of the reportable occupational diseases are:
More details are available from Health and Safety Executive Form 2508A - Report of a Case of Disease.
Contact the Council's Health and Safety Team
Health and Safety Team
Environmental Health
Sevenoaks District Council
Council Offices
Argyle Road
Sevenoaks
Kent
TN13 1GP
Call 01732 227000
Fax 01732 742339
e-mail environmental.health@sevenoaks.gov.uk
