Kent CC has offered its local health trust a loan of £5m to sort out problems with hygiene in local hospitals.

The council called in local health bodies to be scrutinised following the publication of the Healthcare Commission's report last week. The commission revealed 90 people had died between 2004 and 2006, due to outbreaks of Clostridium difficile.

Kent CC leader, Paul Carter, offered the cash and senior management support from the council to help turn around Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust.

Cllr Carter said: ‘We strongly feel that money must be made immediately available from central government, enabling the trust to recruit additional quality staff across the organisation. It is clear they have been understaffed, particularly with nursing. Should this not be forthcoming, Kent CC has offered a short-term loan of £5m to assist in rapid transformation of care.' The council has also pledged to set up a ‘health watch' for concerned patents.

Cllr Carter previously described the Healthcare Commission's report as ‘appalling'. He welcomed the resignation of the chairman of the NHS trust, James Lee. Cllr Carter said: ‘We are pleased that the chairman has now reviewed his position and resigned.'

He called on the Healthcare Commission to re-visit the trust regularly to ensure progress was made on its failures – and vowed the council would assist.
Kent CC called the interim chief executive of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Glen Douglas, and the chief executive of the West Kent Primary Trust, Steve Phoenix, in for a scrutiny meeting on Monday.

Councils were given the power of scrutiny over other agencies in their local area in the Local Government Act 2000. The powers were further extended in the Health and Social Care Act 2001, giving councils a scrutiny role over health services.