A surgeon's former secretary claims a culture of fear is preventing staff from speaking out against poor standards of care at a Bradford breast care unit.

Irene Mounsey made the comments after winning her "victimisation" case against Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust.

She said that patients at the unit were being put at risk by a lack of resources, disorganisation and an outdated approach to treatment.

But the Trust moved to reassure patients, saying her claims were without foundation.

Mrs Mounsey, 53, also spoke of her own cancer fears after finding a lump on her breast.

"I don't feel patients are getting the treatment they deserve and anyone who speaks out against it is vilified," she said.

The Trust had earlier conceded at an employment tribunal that she had been unfairly threatened with an investigation after going on television to defend her former boss consultant surgeon Robert Phipps, who was sacked.

Mrs Mounsey told the hearing that unjustified disciplinary proceedings began against her after she told managers of her concerns for patient care.

The affair had caused her to spend 18 months off work with stress until she quit her role in January, she said.

After the hearing, Mrs Mounsey told the Telegraph & Argus: "It is very difficult being a whistle-blower, you need nerves of steel because you find yourself up against brick wall after brick wall.

"I felt there was a smear campaign against me by managers as soon as I opened my mouth. I felt like a criminal."

Three solicitors had turned down her case before her husband Graham decided to represent her at the tribunal.

Mrs Mounsey, 53, of Shibden, Halifax, began working for the Trust in 1993 after leaving her job as a television editor.

A spokesman for Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust said two external assessments of its breast care service had shown it to be a first class unit.

In last month's performance ratings for NHS Trusts it was also judged to have a "significantly above average" score for breast cancer diagnosis, care and treatment.

The Trust also denied that Mrs Mounsey had been victimised and said that the investigation had been carried out on fact-finding grounds.

"We wanted to establish the reasons for her appearance on television but were unable to do so because she was on sick leave."

The spokesman added that the Trust had previously been given no reason for her appearance on television.

He added that staff were encouraged to use a freedom of speech policy if they wanted their concerns to be investigated. A recent anonymous staff attitude survey provided evidence that staff felt they were able to speak out about issues, he said.