A HEALTH watchdog says cleanliness has improved at the hospitals shamed by large scale C-diff outbreaks.

Inspectors from the Healthcare Commission visited Maidstone and Kent and Sussex Hospitals last week, two months after releasing a damning report into C-diff rates.

The report, published in October, found 90 patients died who had C-diff, at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Hospitals, between 2004 and 2006.

It cited evidence of nurses telling patients with the superbugs to "go to the toilet in your beds."

Dr Heather Wood, who leads the commission’s investigation, made an announced two-day visit last week. She talked to 20 members of staff and visited 22 wards.

She said the standard of cleanliness had improved since the investigation was launched in 2006.

The trust is also in the process of recruiting more nurses, including two senior infection prevention nurses, which the commission said would help improve the control of superbug infections.

And the trust was praised for responding quickly to a small outbreak of C-diff in November, when it established an isolation ward.

Dr Wood said: "We cannot expect wholesale change overnight and these are still early days. But the trust prepared well for the announced visit and we saw some encouraging signs of improvement.

"It is obvious that infection control is now a very high priority and that C-diff is beginning to be recognised as a diagnosis in its own right, not just a clinical complication.

"There is also evidence that staff now consider infection control to be a personal responsibility not just the responsibility of the organisation."

Since the scandal hit national headlines, directors and senior managers and several board members have left and the trust is led by an interim chief executive and chairman. Former chief executive, Rose Gibb left just before the report was published.

Figures show between April and June 2007, 89 patients aged over 65 contracted C-diff, a 46 per cent decrease in the number of cases compared to the same period in 2006.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust wants people from Maidstone to consider joining its board.

There have been criticisms that much of the trust’s board are drawn from the Tunbridge Wells area. The trust has several vacancies for non-executive directors and has organised a day where people interested in applying can find out more about the roles.

It takes place on Friday, January 4, between 1.30 and 3.30pm, at Maidstone Hospital, Hermitage Lane, Maidstone. More information from 01622 226428.