NHS ombudsman warns hospitals are cynically burying evidence of poor care

University hospital of North Tees. The trust that runs it has made two substantial payouts to whistleblowers. Photograph: Islandstock/Alamy

Hospitals are cynically burying evidence about poor care in a “cover-up culture” that leads to avoidable deaths, and families being denied the truth about their loved ones, the NHS ombudsman has warned.

Ministers, NHS leaders and hospital boards are doing too little to end the health service’s deeply ingrained “cover-up culture” and victimisation of staff who turn whistleblower, he added.