Superbug death trust rated 'weak'

Dr Sara Mumford, director of infection prevention and control, says patients are getting good care

An NHS trust that was caught up in two superbug outbreaks has had its quality of care rated as weak by a new NHS regulator.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust failed to meet the core standards of infection control during an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Ninety people died as a result of the outbreaks of Clostridium difficile (C. diff) at the trust in 2006 and 2007.

The trust said the report was out of date and its standards had improved.

CQC chief executive Cynthia Bower said there must be rapid improvements in standards at the 47 trusts the commission found to be underachieving, including Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.

This is definitely an instance where a single word will not do us justice

Glenn Douglas

From April, the CQC will gain new powers to be able to shut any of England's 392 trusts that do not meet certain basic standards.

A spokesman for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust said the report did not reflect recent significant improvements in patient care.

Trust chief executive Glenn Douglas said: "We have made significant progress in the quality of our services in the last 18 months and, while we accept the score is still likely to be 'weak', this is definitely an instance where a single word will not do us justice."

In a report earlier this year the Healthcare Commission, which was replaced by CQC, said the trust had made "substantial improvements" since the superbug incidents but further work needed to be done.

In 2007 the commission found dirty wards had contributed to the C.diff outbreaks which led to the deaths of 90 people.

The trust's chief executive, Rose Gibb, later resigned by mutual agreement.

Maidstone and Tunbridge wells negotiated a £250,000 deal with Ms Gibb but withheld £175,000 after being told not to pay the full sum by the government.

A High Court judge ruled in April that she was not entitled to the £250,000 payoff but in September she won the right to appeal against the decision.