An emotional MSP has spoken about the “heartbreaking” experience of the family of a patients who died in the latest hospital outbreak of Clostridium difficile.

Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie was clearly moved as she recalled how the relatives of one of the victims from Ninewells Hospital in Dundee had contacted her.

It emerged last week that five people died at the hospital, with the C diff infection killing two patients and contributing to the deaths of three others.

Ms Baillie had to pause to compose herself while reading from the letter the victim’s relatives sent her.

In it they raised issues about practices at the hospital and said the outbreak of C diff was “no surprise although very distressing”.

Ms Baillie also claimed that Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon’s statement on the Ninewells outbreak was “misleading”.

The Labour politician told MSPs Ms Sturgeon had said that patients and relatives were kept “fully informed” about the infection.

However the letter from the victim’s family said: “Never at any time were we aware or had been told that it was the virulent 027 strain. This information we have distressingly had to read in our local newspapers.”

The family said it was “utter rubbish” to claim relatives were kept informed.

Today, as MSPs debated measures aimed at tackling C diff, Ms Baillie said: “The cabinet secretary told this chamber that patients and relatives were kept fully informed at all times.

“I am sure she will want to reflect on what NHS Tayside told her as, in the very clear view of this family, this was not the case.”

In their letter to Ms Baillie the family also said they were “extremely upset by the lack of continuity between staff with their hygiene”.

They said, as an example, that a bin in the hospital had an “absolutely disgusting” smell and that when they asked for it to be emptied they were told to “use the air freshener”.

The letter also said staff would come into the room wearing no apron or gloves, that an oxygen mask, blanket and pillow were found lying on the floor, and that on one occasion when visiting they found faeces on the floor, sink and on their mother’s night-dress and slippers.

Ms Baillie said the “most basic lessons” from a previous C diff outbreak at the Vale of Leven Hospital in West Dunbartonshire had not been learned at Ninewells Hospital.

And she said: “This family’s experience is just heartbreaking.”

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the Government will look at ways to "learn lessons" from outbreaks.

"Since this Government took office, rates of C difficile have come down by more than 40%.

"That's not good enough but it's progress that Jackie Baillie should've acknowledged more prominently in the speech she made."

Ms Sturgeon said she also got a letter from the family mentioned by Ms Baillie and had ordered NHS Tayside to investigate the claims.

"The relative will be kept fully informed, as is her absolute right. I've also offered to meet with her to discuss the serious concerns that she raises."

She said action has been taken through the work of the healthcare environment inspectorate to drive down cases of C diff, along with the recommendations of a review team into a separate outbreak at the Vale of Leven hospital.

"I'm very aware of the anxiety that people have about the risk of infection in hospitals.

"That's why we must ensure and continue to ensure that all of our healthcare environments have robust processes, policies and procedures in place."

But she pointed out that only in late 2006 was mandatory surveillance of C diff rates in hospital introduced and published for the first time early the following year.

"For most of the previous administration's time in office, we had no idea how many cases of C diff there were locally or nationally."