A scholarship fund has been set up in memory of those who died in the Vale of Leven hospital C. diff outbreak.

Health Secretary Shona Robison announced that £25,000 will be made available for nurses to carry out research into improving patient care.

The move is in line with recommendations made by Lord MacLean, who led the inquiry that found C. diff was a factor in the deaths of 34 out of 143 patients who had tested positive for the infection at the West Dunbartonshire hospital in 2007 and 2008.

A further pot of £50,000 will allow nurses or teams to have further training in quality improvement and leadership.

Ms Robison said: "I'm pleased to be able to confirm this scholarship programme and improvement project fund to recognise the survivors and in memory of those who died at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

"We've engaged closely with patients and their families throughout this process and they agree that this is a fitting and enduring legacy, one which will continue to drive improvements in practice well into the future.

"Significant improvements have already been made since the Vale of Leven hospital outbreak in 2007, particularly around infection prevention and control measures, but more can be done to achieve our aim of a world-class health service.

"It's important to me that these tragic events ultimately lead to meaningful improvements in patient care. These programmes will equip nurses with research evidence and skills to bring into the wider workforce, continually improving the safety of the healthcare environment for everyone."

Professor Fiona McQueen, Scotland's chief nursing officer and chair of the Vale of Leven implementation group, said: "As we move through the 21st century, we nurses must be confident in becoming 'nurses of tomorrow', and the nurses taking part in this improvement programme and, crucially, sharing their learning with their colleagues across the country will play an important role in that. I look forward very much to hearing about their experiences.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the family members who are part of the Vale of Leven implementation group for their valued contribution and thoughtful challenge to this work.

"They provide us with a very grounded view of what happened and why we need to learn from events, and these scholarships will provide focused opportunities for nurses to look at what the recommendations mean for their practice."