Food poisoning and infectious diseases

Infectious disease notifications

Infectious diseases are much less common in Britain today, but they do still happen from time to time and because these illnesses can spread across communities and regions, it’s important that we work together to spot them early and respond quickly.

One of the ways we do this is through disease notifications, which help us understand what’s happening in our population and take action when needed.

What doctors need to do

If a registered medical practitioner thinks a patient may have one of the specified infectious diseases, they are legally required to let the Health Board know.

Here’s what’s important:

• notification is based on clinical suspicion - laboratory confirmation is not required before reporting
• early reporting makes a big difference - it allows us to act within the disease’s incubation period and helps prevent further spread. Waiting for test results can cause unnecessary delays

Where notifications are sent

All notifications are sent to The East Region Health Protection Service.

The East Region Health Protection Service covers NHS Borders, NHS Fife, NHS Forth valley and NHS Lothian.  

Phone: 0300 790 62 64

Email: eos.eastregionhpt@nhs.scot

Why investigations take place

Many different types of bacteria, parasites and viruses can cause vomiting and/or diarrhoea. 

The purpose of any investigation is to try to prevent the spread of illness and to try and find out what has caused it.

Advice is given to the patient or the patient’s guardian, if they are a child, on how this may be achieved.

Investigations can help obtain information that may be able to assist us in our inspections of food businesses and food sampling programme.

What we will ask

On receipt of a notification, we will contact the person with the symptoms (or their parent or guardian) and ask them questions regarding:

• what and where you've eaten prior to illness
• details of any symptoms
• if you’ve been on holiday abroad
• whether or not your GP has taken a faecal sample
• has anybody else you have eaten with also experienced any symptoms