A group of medics has warned that NHS whistleblowers are having their careers ruined by managers.
More than 50 doctors and nurses have said they have been targeted after raising concerns about upwards of 170 patient deaths and nearly 700 cases of poor care.
One consultant told The Telegraph the true number of avoidable deaths was "astronomical" calling it "the biggest scandal within our country."
The whistleblowers are alleging NHS bosses are spending millions hiring law firms and private eyes to investigate them instead, leading many medics to quit the profession.
Medics say they are being led to quit the profession (file pic)
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Chairman of the council of the British Medical Association Professor Phil Banfield said: "[Whistleblowing] is not welcomed by NHS management.
"NHS trusts and senior managers are more concerned with protecting personal and organisational reputations than they are with protecting patients."
In one case, the NHS spent more than £4million on legal action against a single whistleblower, which included £3.2m in compensation.
Meanwhile in some cases, NHS managers are accused of falsifying or destroying evidence to make whistleblowers appear to be the guilty ones.
Professor Philip Banfield, chair of the British Medical Association (BMA)
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Between the 52 doctors and nurses across 41 different trusts concerns about a total of 177 deaths and 680 instances of patient harm were raised.
Because NHS managers decided to put the whistleblowers under investigation, rather than addressing their concerns, they claim that most of the harm, 129 deaths and 413 non-fatal injuries, happened after they had first reported the problems.
Once whistleblowers have been put under investigation, it takes on average six years, three months and 19 days to resolve their cases.
Of the 52 doctors, midwives and nurses who spoke to The Telegraph, only 27 remain in full NHS employment.
Only 27 of those interviewed remain in full NHS employment
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An NHS England spokesman said: "It is completely unacceptable for any member of staff to feel silenced or unable to speak up about issues affecting them or patients, not only should everyone working in the NHS feel they can raise concerns but they must know that they will be acted on and that they will be treated fairly, this is vital for ensuring that the NHS learns from mistakes and provides the best possible care for patients.
"Every NHS trust should be adopting the updated national Freedom to Speak Up policy and NHS England has recently asked all local areas to urgently ensure staff have easy access to information on how they can raise concerns, including through having a dedicated Freedom to Speak Up Guardian in place.
"Where people are disadvantaged as a result of speaking up, NHS England has ensured there is additional help available with a national scheme in place so staff can receive additional intensive support in these circumstances."
