AIR ambulance flights into Maidstone Hospital have been immediately suspended following publication of the damning report into superbug outbreaks at three Kent hospitals.

The Healthcare Commission report, just published, today, found as many as 1,170 patients were infected with Clostridium Difficile (C-diff) at Maidstone Hospital, Pembury Hospital and the Kent and Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, between April 2004 and September 2006.

In a statement, Kent Air Ambulance bosses said they were deeply concerned by the report.

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

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

Neither Pembury Hospital or the Kent and Sussex Hospital have helipads.

The statement said patients will be flown to Medway Maritime Hospital or the William Harvey Hospital, in Ashford, until the issue is settled.