AN outbreak of food poisoning at a Salisbury nursing home played a significant part in the death of an elderly resident, a court heard last week.

Beryl Symonds (75), who suffered from Parkinson's disease and rheumatoid arthritis and had existing heart disease, was living at Little Manor Nursing Home, when she developed diarrhoea in January this year and died 11 days later.

At an inquest in Salisbury on Friday into her death, Catherine Allerton, who was matron and proprietor of the home at the time, told deputy Wiltshire coroner Bill Bache that Mrs Symonds had been at the home about six months, was frail and needed full nursing care.

She developed diarrhoea on January 9 and was seen by a doctor.

A further examination and tests were carried out five days later.

Those tests revealed salmonella and this was reported immediately to Salisbury district council's environmental health department, Mrs Allerton said.

Mrs Symonds responded to antibiotics but died on January 20.

Mrs Allerton said: "Sometimes she was brighter and better and then she had another episode of diarrhoea.

"She did not seem to be in great distress."

Mitchell Sanders, the council's principal environmental health officer, said the council had been notified of four confirmed cases of salmonella at the home and had begun an investigation.

It believed the likely cause was eggs, and the most likely vehicle for the infection - although it was never proved conclusively - was a flan made and eaten on January 8.

The eggs used at the home were bought from a reputable source and used prior to the 'best before' date, said Mr Sanders.

"The home gave its full co-operation, its records were well kept and the proper action was taken," he added.

He said action was immediately taken in three areas, as required by the council, and other recommended changes had since been completed.

The council no longer had any concerns.

Salisbury District Hospital pathologist Michelle Khan said the cause of Mrs Symonds' death was heart failure, to which gastro-enteritis, due to salmonella, "had contributed significantly".

Mr Bache, recording a verdict of accidental death, said there was nothing to suggest that Mrs Symonds' care had been "anything other than entirely appropriate and assiduous" and the nursing home had been "as co-operative as it could be".

"She was not a well lady and had heart disease and other problems," he said.

"Dr Khan says the salmonella contributed significantly and so, on the balance of probabilities, I must record a verdict of accidental death."