Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has asked health chiefs not to stop NHS staff from raising concerns about poor care.
The request comes as Sir Robert Francis QC, who led the inquiry into Mid-Staffs, launches a review into the treatment of NHS whistle-blowers.
He has already begun to take evidence from people who claim they have been silenced by NHS Trusts and unions.
In a letter, the health secretary said the culture of gagging orders must be set aside. “We believe that it is crucial that we hear the voices of those who say they have suffered detriment in the past and learn lessons for the future”, he wrote.
“My expectation would be that the existence of any confidentiality clauses, for example in employment contracts or settlement agreements, would not be used as a justification to prevent NHS staff from contributing evidence and their experiences to the review.”
A source close to Mr Hunt said: “The appalling events at Mid Staffs showed what can happen when staff are not able to raise concerns about standards of patient care.”
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