Sunderland Councillor Demands Urgent Inspection Of Sunderland’s Turkish Barber Shops After Reports Of Widespread Infections

A local councillor has written to Sunderland Council this morning urging them to conduct urgent checks on Sunderland Turkish barber shops after reports of widespread infections spread online.

Councillor Dominic McDonough who acts as Shadow Cabinet Member for Health in Sunderland has been contacted by residents who have raised concerns following a number of stories of infections across the city picked up from various Turkish Barbers. These infections include ringworm, which is a contagious fungal infection that causes a red, itchy, scaly rash on the skin and is the result of poor hygiene and can be transferred on objects that have been infected, such as scissors or combs.

Issues such as ringworm are highly infectious and could cause people in the city to have a very unpleasant Christmas.

One shocking incident in July of this year even saw a little boy in Fulwell lose half of his hair after contracting a viral infection from a Turkish barber due to poor hygiene standards.

Many residents have contacted Councillor McDonough with stories of infections and many have serious worries about a more widespread outbreak in the city, with many barbers expected to be very busy ahead of Christmas as everyone gets that last minute haircut.

All barbers in the city are required to be registered with the council who have a responsibility to inspect the premises to ensure that all staff are at the required standard and that all processes are followed to keep things hygienic.

Councillor McDonough is now calling on the Council to do a full check on the hygiene standards of Turkish barbers in the city to ensure that a widespread outbreak of infection is avoided and has written to health bosses in the city.

Speaking about the issue Cllr McDonough said “As people head to the barbers ahead of Christmas we must ensure that we are not walking into a potential outbreak in the city. I am calling on the Council to take this issue very seriously. We have already seen a number of people suffer because hygiene standards have not been met. We don’t want people to suffer over Christmas. The council must act urgently and ensure that the now widespread Turkish barber shops are making the grade. We cannot risk peoples health.”