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)

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

PA