SUPERBUG Clostridium Difficile is killing increasing numbers of patients at Swindon's hospital every year.

Figures showing the proportion of patients who died at the Great Western Hospital after contracting the disease, known as C-Diff, almost doubled every year since the hospital opened.

In 2003, six patients died from deaths linked to the superbug. In 2004, 14 patients contracted the disease and died in hospital beds.

In 2005, 16 people with the disease died, and the most recent figures for 2006 showed 38 people had the illness and died.

The figures revealed just half of one per cent of deaths at the hospital were connected to C-Diff, during its first full year in service.

But the next year 1.1 per cent of deaths were linked to the illness, the year after 1.2 per cent of patients who died had the disease and in 2006 2.6 per cent of all deaths at GWH were associated to C-Diff.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray obtained the figures for the number of deaths involving C-Diff from the Office of National Statistics.

"The hospital should be ashamed in admitting they do not know how many of their patients died from C-Diff," said Mr Gray, pictured right.

"The thing that is shockingly missing from these figures is how many C-Diff related deaths there were in 2007 and how many people died from MRSA.

"This is not just about the individual people affected, but the worrying increase.

"We are constantly being told they are on top of infection control and C-Diff.

"But year on year the increase is quite surprising.

"And in the absence of figures to the contrary for 2007 and 2008, it would suggest they could be even higher."

Eighty three-year-old Joan Kennedy died from C-diff at the Great Western Hospital last year.

Her daughter Christine Warr, of Eldene, told the Adver last October that her mum went onto a ward with a minor infection and never returned.

Now Christine has been given an apology by the hospital.

"They've sent us a letter saying all the things they did wrong," she said. "They have accepted the blame but I'm seeking advice from a solicitor.

"To be honest these figures don't surprise me.

"There were so many occasions where they were not caring for my mum in the way they should have, not following the hygiene rules and leaving food next to the beds.

"I'm sure things are still not right there. If anything happens to me, I don't want to go in there."

Former horse trainer Jenny Pitman also spoke to the Advertiser about her father's treatment at Swindon's Great Western Hospital.

Her 92-year-old father George Harvey was admitted to the Great Western with stomach cancer. When he was moved to the Prospect Hospice to spend his final days he was diagnosed with C-Diff.

Jenny said George's health had progressively worsened during his five week stay at the hospital.

Hospital spokeswoman Teri Stevans said the facility was unable to find any information on the number of patients who have died from C-Diff, or explain why cases increased between 2003 and 2006.