Bug-scandal trust in fresh outbreak

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Six cases were reported on one ward stretching back about two weeks at Maidstone Hospital, which is run by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

One patient has returned home to Holland while the five other patients were immediately identified with the bug and are recovering well on side wards, trust spokesman Paul Bryden said.

Following a deep clean, the ward was given the all-clear by newly-installed infection control chief Dr Sara Mumford, Mr Bryden added.

The trust faced heavy criticism in a Healthcare Commission report last month after it revealed a catalogue of errors allowed the bug to thrive, contributing to outbreaks that were linked to 90 deaths.

A total of 345 people died while infected with the bug and more than 1,100 were infected across a two-year period at the trust, prompting Health Secretary Alan Johnson to apologise for the "truly scandalous" outbreak.

Police and health and safety officials continue investigations into patient care at the trust, and measures have been taken in an effort to restore public confidence.

Trust officials said that it was important to stress that the C diff bug was detected promptly in this latest outbreak.

Mr Bryden said: "If you go into any hospital up and down the country you will find cases of C diff, because about 10% of the population carry it.

"The important thing is that these cases were picked up promptly and dealt with appropriately. The ward where the outbreak occurred has reopened having been deep-cleaned."