By Steve Bargeton, political editor

MINISTERS WERE urged to re-introduce “super sisters” to Scottish hospitals yesterday to combat the Clostridium difficile killer bug.

The Scottish Government has announced an independent inquiry into possibly the UK’s worst outbreak, at the Vale of Leven Hospital in Dumbarton where 54 people were treated between December and June.

Of the 54 cases, 23 patients died, with the infection directly responsible for eight of those deaths and a contributory factor in eight others.

At Question Time yesterday, the First Minister said details of C. diff cases in all Scottish hospitals would be published as soon as possible.

The assurance was given in response to Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie who also called for the re-introduction of “super sisters”.

“It is clear there was a catastrophic failure to apply hygiene standards at Vale of Leven,” she said. “That is why Scottish Conservatives are repeating our call for the re-introduction in our hospitals of a clinical presence, a super sister, a visible point of authority empowered to enforce…robust hygiene standards in every ward, in every hospital in Scotland.

“Publishing the figures by hospital and not health board, and re-introducing a clinical presence on our wards could make the difference.”

Confirming that full details of C. diff cases in other hospitals would be made public, Mr Salmond said, “We recognise the extent and seriousness of the problem, the heartbreak it causes to affected families and individuals and the fact it can undermine …confidence in the health service.”

He said the Scottish Government was spending £50 million over the next three years combating hospital-acquired infections, against annual expenditure of £5 million previously.

Ms Goldie called for “super sisters” on wards to enforce hygiene standards and asked Mr Salmond to make public all C. difficile cases.

Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen asked Alex Salmond what information was being given to patients and relatives about the dangers of C. diff after the relative of a woman who died from the infection said she had not been told the bug could be fatal, and had been given soiled clothes to take home without any instructions on how to handle them.

“Is the life-threatening nature of C. diff still being concealed from some patients and relatives?” he asked.

“Patients and relatives across Scotland are rightly anxious and confused—they should go into hospital to get better, not worse.”

Mr Salmond said that the information given to the patient’s relative was not acceptable.