Public Health England Investigate Reports Of Illness At The Winter Gardens Pub

A man, who fell ill and needed medical treatment after eating at the Winter Gardens Wetherspoons pub in Harrogate, which was temporarily closed due to an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug norovirus, has instructed specialist Public Health lawyers at Irwin Mitchell.

Paul Pojar, 34 from Harrogate, fell ill a day after eating pizzas with his friend at the pub on 17th September. As he continued to suffer from vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pains and fever, Paul sought medical attention and attended the out of hours GP at Harrogate Hospital on 19th September and was given a prescription to treat his symptoms.

The pub, on Parliament Street, originally closed on 18th September and reopened three-days later. Local media has reported that a number of staff and customers had been feeling ill and that the pub would close down for a professional clean .

Public Health England has also confirmed it is investigating the reports into illness at the pub. On the 26th September, Wetherspoons said that they had been given ‘a clean bill of health’ by Public Health England. It also said that all members of staff were showing no symptoms and were able to return to work.

Amandeep Dhillon, a Partner and Public Health specialist at Irwin Mitchell, who has previously notably represented almost 300 people who fell ill after an outbreak of norovirus at a pub in Exeter, said: 

Expert Opinion

“We were concerned by the initial reports regarding the Wetherspoons pub in Harrogate.

“It’s imperative that the cause of the illness is determined to ensure that no others are affected like Paul has been.

“We will continue to work with Paul as we investigate the cause of his illness, and to ensure that he gets answers for how he came to fall ill.” Amandeep Dhillon - Partner

Paul, a taxi driver, missed several days of work due to his illness.

Paul said: “I went for some food with my friend, and we just had pizzas. I didn’t think much of it until the next day when I began to feel really ill and I was being sick.

“My symptoms got worse so I went to the out of hours GP at the Harrogate Hospital and it was actually the doctor who told me that other people who had eaten at the Wetherspoons in town had been complaining about feeling ill.  

“When I read the newspaper stories about the place closing down for a clean, I began to worry that this could be something serious and instructed lawyers to investigate what happened.”

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