The report said hospital beds at the Kent and Sussex were too close

The Kent and Sussex Hospital is run by an NHS trust whose "poor handling" of the infection resulted in 90 deaths, according to the Healthcare Commission.

The hospital's League of Friends said it had to provide commodes, fans and other equipment for an isolation ward.

The trust said it was sorry if it had placed an "undue burden" on the group.

The Kent and Sussex, at Tunbridge Wells, is one of three hospitals run by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, which was heavily criticised in the Healthcare Commission's report on Thursday.

Clostridium difficile, a bacterial infection of the gut, causes severe diarrhoea.

League of Friends committee member Peter Coppins said it had spent �5,634 on commodes and storage racks, fans and a hoist for the Hargraves ward used to isolate victims.

SOME OF THE FRIENDS' FUNDING Two patient trolleys for ICU - �16,907 Two plaster couches - �3,319 Vital signs monitor - �4,740 Paediatric infusion pump - �3,108 Four tournique machines - �4,000 Examination couch - �3,169

"We had to buy the commodes because they hadn't got enough," he said.

"Then we had to buy a hoist because when people went to the toilet and fell over the nursing staff weren't able to lift them up.

"Because of the unpleasant odours caused by C.diff the nursing staff were faced with going into a vile-smelling environment.

"The fans were used just to get some fresh air circulating."

The items for Hargraves were among a �64,318 shopping list approved by the League in June which included items such as an examination couch and tourniquet machines.

"It is very difficult indeed - we are in an onerous position," said Mr Coppins.

"Our remit is to provide comfort for patients but we have been buying quite a lot of equipment which is really capital equipment."

Commodes for the isolation ward were among the items purchased

The Kent and Sussex and the trust's Pembury Hospital are to be replaced by a new �226m private-finance scheme building due to open by 2011.

The Healthcare Commission's report said the NHS trust had a fixation with meeting financial targets and Mr Coppins said the League believed the pressures of the new hospital project contributed to this.

"The situation has arisen because the hospital is trying to get out of deficit - that is their big problem.

"We can all see it but I think it is wrong that these items should not be purchased by the trust."

The trust said in a statement it was very grateful to the League of Friends and would not knowingly upset their close bond.

"We would only accept items the League is happy to provide," it said.