Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has set a new national C. difficile target for NHS health boards, calling on them to cut infection numbers for over-65s by 30 per cent by 2011.

The new health, efficiency, access and treatment (HEAT) target follows a previous Scottish Government target to cut staphylococcus aureus infections (which include MRSA) by 30 per cent by 2010.

The Scottish Government has made £54 million available over three years to combat healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Measures include tougher handwashing protocols and education campaigns, as well as a national screening programme for MRSA.

"The public must have confidence in their NHS and know that they're going to get the best possible care whenever they need to go into hospital. That's why tackling the problem of healthcare-associated infections is a key priority for this Government," Sturgeon said.

"Health boards are already working hard to crack down on these infections, which can have devastating effects on patients.

"The latest statistics show C.diff cases in Scotland have been reduced by seven per cent on the previous quarter, and the challenging target I'm announcing today clearly demonstrates our commitment to build on this progress," she added.

The latest Health Protection Scotland statistics show C. difficile infections falling to 1,732 cases in the last three months, from 1,861 in the previous quarter.