'I'm an NHS whistleblower. Patients are dying needlessly'

Several hundred more cases are likely to come under Operation Bamber , a formal investigation into multiple deaths and injuries at the Royal Sussex County Hospital between 2015 and 2021 .

Michael Swinn , a consultant urological surgeon who blew the whistle on bad practice at his own trust, said he has been approached by senior clinical staff across the country, including Brighton , since publishing a book about his own experience.

Michael Swinn’s advice for any potential NHS whistleblower is simple: “Be prepared. You may think it will take you three weeks or months , but it could take 12 or 15 years to resolve.

“Being a whistleblower is more difficult than being a surgeon, by far, more difficult to take out a bladder or uterus. This will be tough, but you just have to stay tough.” Trust chief executives across the country continue to put their hospital's reputation and their own above that of patient safety.

The idea that oversight from non-executive board and chair of the trust [are regulating managers] is complete rubbish,” Mr Swinn said.

Another central problem is that the Freedom to Speak Up guardians created at trusts following the Sir Robert Francis report into the Mid Staffs scandal are “almost entirely useless”.