RELATIVES of the victims of Scotland's worst ever outbreak of Clostridium difficile said their faith in the NHS had been "shaken to the core".

A damning report found C.diff contributed to the deaths of at least 34 patients at the Vale of Leven hospital in Inverclyde - a hospital which had just 136 beds.

Families have vowed to fight on until "every one" of the 75 inquiry recommen-dations is in place.

Lord MacLean's report identified failings "at every level" including basic standards of nursing care and laid the blame squarely on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for the "needless" loss of lives.

NHSGGC chairman Andrew Robertson apologised to patients and families for the "terrible failure" that had led to the deaths.

One relative told how she found faeces under her mother's fingernails. Another described taking wipes to the hospital to clean dirty tables and trays.

Another witness said: "There was always a stench of urine and/or faeces and nothing ever looked particularly clean."

Nursing care was described as poor overall and "lamentable" at worst and there was evidence of neglect. One nurse told the inquiry that she "wasn't aware" how serious C.diff was.

The inquiry found that it took more than 24 hours to test stool samples and when patients tested positive there were "unacceptable" delays in treatment.

Some relatives did not witness a real difference in care when patients were diagnosed with C.diff Patients were allowed to move freely in wards and when they were put into isolation, strict isolation procedures were not always followed.

Lord MacLean said the Scottish Government had also failed to ensure that the appropriate inspection procedures were in place prior to the outbreak and that lessons had not been learned from earlier outbreaks across the UK.

He warned that some of the failings identified in the report were still a problem in Scottish hospitals.

Repeated warnings about the careful use of anti-biotics had "no impact" and uncertainty over the future of the hospital had affected staff morale and recruitment.

One witness said nurses "did not have the time" for personal care. Another said he had waited 18 months to speak to a doctor about his father's condition.

The report also found that there were a number of undeclared earlier outbreaks.

A total of 143 patients tested positive for the bug from January 2007 to December 31, 2008. The inquiry found that Thomas Divers, then NHSGGC chief executive, did not become aware of the problem until June 2008.

Labour health spokes-woman Jackie Baillie said relatives had "put their grief on hold" for five years while the report was delayed.

She said: "I am so glad that the families have been vindicated in their fight for a public inquiry. Nicola Sturgeon resisted this for two years.

"They talked about the inspections that have been put in place since this happened but this came from the families. One relative, a teacher, said: 'I can find out how my local pub is performing but I can't find out about the condition of my local hospital?'"

Relatives met with the new Cabinet Secretary for Health Shona Robison after the report was made public yesterday to find out when the recommendations will be implemented.

They include improve-ments to nursing and medical care, antibiotic prescribing, communica-tion with patients and relatives and death certification.

Speaking on behalf of the families, Patrick McGuire of Thomson's Solicitors, said: "There are no words we can say that will accurately convey the anger, hurt and grief we have felt for the past seven years over the suffering that our loved ones endured as they succumbed to this terrible outbreak.

"The events at Vale of Leven that began in the late months of 2007 are a shame on the conscious of the Scottish NHS.

"We will not rest until our campaign for justice is satisfied.

"If we can prevent this from happening to another family it will a fitting tribute to our loved ones."

Andrew Robertson, chairman and chief executive of NHSGGC, said: "I can give the firmest of assurances that, as a result of the lessons that have been learned, this could not happen again.

"We have invested £14million in the Vale to deliver a range of improve-ments including better bed spacing and improved hand washing."

caroline.wilson@eveningtimes.co.uk