By Sam Webb PUBLISHED: 16:24 EST, 19 March 2013 | UPDATED: 16:45 EST, 19 March 2013 Gary Walker, NHS whistleblower and former Hospital chief executive for United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS trust, says bullying is rampant in the NHS The former boss of a hospital which is being investigated over high death rates today described a culture of 'sheer bullying' in the NHS. Gary Walker, former chief executive of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT), said he was threatened by East Midlands Strategic Health Authority (SHA) when he flagged up hospital capacity problems. The whistleblower, who claimed he was sacked after raising concerns about patient safety, said he felt pressured by officials when he put the hospital on 'red alert' because it was almost full to capacity.
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Gary Walker, a former Lincolnshire health chief, says bullying is rife
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He says those who raise fears over services are threatened to meet targets
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The former chairman of the trust also says financial irregularities are hidden
'The very clear implication of that is that the financial distress in @placeholder was being deliberately concealed from the centre to make the SHA look good.