TWO healthcare assistants have been sacked by the health trust at the centre of the C-diff outbreak.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust confirmed the two staff members, who worked at Maidstone Hospital, had been dismissed, after it launched an investigation into patient care.

A staff nurse and another healthcare assistant, who work at the Kent and Sussex Hospital, also run by the trust, have been disciplined but remain working.

At a Kent County Council NHS overview and scrutiny meeting, the trust's acting chief nurse, Amy Page, said the four staff members were suspended at the end of September.

Interim chief executive, Glenn Douglas, confirmed the suspensions were not related to care given to C-diff patients.

Mr Douglas said: "We are acting firmly to give a clear message to any member of staff behaving inappropriately."