A ward in Glasgow’s Gartnavel Hospital has been closed to new patients following the deaths of two people in an outbreak of the C-Diff super bug.

The two patients who died were among five infected by clostridium difficile at the hospital.

A 76-year-old patient, who had recently been transferred from Drumchapel Hospital, died on October 2. The patient was confirmed as having C-Diff but a post mortem has still to be carried out to establish if the super bug was a factor in the death.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde say the other patient was also confirmed as having C Diff, but insist the 78-year-old’s death on October 9 was due to a serious underlying medical condition.

Of the other three patients affected, one is still showing symptoms of the infection but is responding well to treatment, the health board said. The others are improving and are no longer showing symptoms of C-Diff.

Thompsons Solicitors is representing the families of the victims at the public inquiry into the deaths of 18 people in a C-Diff outbreak at Vale of Leven Hospital.

Shadow Health Secretary Jackie Baillie said she was “very concerned” to learn of the latest deaths.

She added: “Every family has the right to expect that when their loved ones go into hospital they will be treated in clean and safe conditions.”