Surrey Air Ambulance has suspended flights to Maidstone Hospital following the damning report on the c difficile outbreak in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust hospitals.

The Healthcare Commission report found 90 elderly patients "definitely or probably" died from infection at the trust's three hospitals between April 2004 and September 2006.

The report highlighted failings in hygiene standards in the hospitals, prompting fears that the infection could spread.

Surrey Air Ambulance has suspended all flights to Maidstone Hospital until it receives assurances the infection is under control.

A spokesperson for Surrey Air Ambulance said: "Like all healthcare professionals we are deeply concerned by this damning report.

"We are today writing to the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospital Trust and seeking an urgent meeting with senior clinicians and board members to obtain guarantees and assurances that the infection problem is under control.

"Until such time as those assurances have been received, the charity feels that it has a duty to its patients to suspend flights into Maidstone Hospital.

"During this period patients who would normally be airlifted to Maidstone will be taken to our colleagues at either Medway Maritime Hospital or William Harvey Hospital in Ashford."