Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

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Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is a large NHS Trust within in the British National Health Service that manages hospitals in the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells region in Kent.

It was heavily criticized in 2007 by the Healthcare Commission regarding its handling of a major outbreak of Clostridium difficile in its hospitals from April 2004 to September 2006. In its report, the Commission estimated that about 90 patients "definitely or probably" died as a result of the infection.

The Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson, described the 90 patients' deaths as "scandalous".

[edit] External links

Healthcare Commission report:

• Healthcare Commission press release: Healthcare watchdog finds significant failings in infection control at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, 11 October 2007
• Healthcare Commission, Investigation into outbreaks of Clostridium difficile at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, October 2007

News reports:

• Times Online, Superbug hospital may face criminal charges, 11 October 2007
• Daily Telegraph, Health Secretary intervenes in superbug row, 11 October 2007
• Channel 4 News, Hospital bug 'caused 90 deaths', 11 October 2007