Doctors and nurses will be warned they have a duty to “blow the whistle” on poor medical care in hospitals following the scandal at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust which may have cost up to 1,200 lives.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced plans to include measures to protect whistle-blowers in the NHS Constitution, which sets out the rights of patients.

The aim was to end a “culture of fear” which prevented health service staff from revealing the problems that existed in Stafford Hospital from 2005 to 2009.

Staff will be told about their legal rights to speak out without fear of disciplinary action.

But they will also be told there was an expectation that they raise concerns about safety, malpractice or wrongdoing at work which may affect patients, the public, other staff or the organisation itself as early as possible.

Mr Lansley said: “A public inquiry into the failings at Mid-Staffordshire is already underway. But it’s important that we don’t delay making changes to prevent such failures from happening again. The NHS Constitution must be brought up to date to enshrine the rights of staff.

“Staff should be working in an environment where they feel able to voice concerns and know that their concerns will be taken seriously. The changes we are consulting on take that a step further. Staff will be expected to raise concerns and employers must support them and investigate where necessary. That means better patient care and better staff morale.”

An independent report commissioned by the Government last year concluded that patients were “robbed of their dignity” at Stafford Hospital and Cannock Chase Hospital, with some left in soiled bedclothes, while families had to clean lavatories and public areas themselves.

Staff were “uncaring” and managers “in denial” about the problems, the report found.

* The consultation continues until January 11 and further details are available at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_120349