FAMILIES affected by the C.diff outbreak will play a key role in helping ensure it never happens again, Health Secretary Shona Robison has pledged.

Ms Robison said a dedicated group was being set up to take the 75 recommendations forward, with strong input from the families affected.

All hospitals in Scotland will be required to review their infection control procedures and respond to the government within eight weeks, and inspectors will be given the power to shut down wards.

Ms Robison said: "Our first thoughts must be with the families and patients who have been let down by our NHS and for that I am truly sorry.

"Our NHS failed in its duty of care for all of these patients and their families.

"The report found clear failings across all levels in the system - including nursing and medicine through to management.

"Its findings outline the lack of investment in the hospital, which was simply no longer fit for its purpose of providing modern health care.

"There was a lack of managerial oversight and a fundamental breakdown in the links between what was happening at ward level and those in positions of authority at the board.

"Added to this there had been longstanding uncertainty over the future of NHS Argyll and Clyde.

"The merger with NHS Greater Glasgow was announced in 2005 but not effectively implemented until after the outbreak.

"This allowed bad practice and lack of managerial control at the Vale of Leven.

"At a national level there was no effective inspection regime at the time to pick up these failings and their impact on patient care.

"We have already announced that Scot-land's interim chief nursing officer will be working closely with board nurse directors to develop local quality assurance programmes to empower their senior charge nurses to fulfil their role as guardians of quality care.

"I want to go even further and will be asking that information from these quality assurance programmes is publicly available and easily accessible to patients and the public.

"We should also note that C.diff and MRSA levels have reduced to record low levels.

"Of course we can do more, and we will use the recommendations to improve systems further.

"Our top priority is that lessons are learned."