Hunt attacks treatment of NHS whistleblower Jeremy Hunt has stepped into a growing row over an NHS whistleblower, describing his treatment as "unacceptable." The health secretary said senior managers would face "consequences" if a gagging order had breached health service guidelines. Gary Walker, who was dismissed as chief executive of United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, went public this week with claims - strongly disputed by his employers - that he had been penalised for putting patient safety ahead of meeting Whitehall targets. He has now received a lawyer's letter, threatening him with legal action for allegedly breaching a confidentiality commitment, and warning him he may have to return a payout made to settle his unfair dismissal claim, along with further sums including legal costs. Mr Hunt said on BBC radio that this was not acceptable. "I have written to the chairman of the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust to ask him why their first reaction when faced with this was to get their lawyers to send a letter rather than to get to the bottom of the patient safety issues that were raised," he said. Stephen Dorrell, the chairman of the Commons health select committee, has written to Mr Hunt, saying the committee plans to call Mr Walker to give evidence and seeking assurances "that neither the trust nor any other NHS body will seek to enforce any clause in Mr Walker's compromise agreement which would impinge on his capacity to respond fully to the committee's request." Mr Hunt said he had written to the trust - currently the subject of an official investigation into higher-than-expected death rates - to find out the contents of the settlement so that he could establish if it was in line with NHS guidelines on whistleblowing. He added: "If it isn't, of course I will insist that they change it." He was concerned that Mr Walker appeared to have been "leaned on" not to speak out. Asked if the senior staff at the trust faced being sacked if there had been mismanagement, he said: "If they have got this wrong, there will be consequences - yes. But I want to investigate and find out and get to the bottom of what actually happened before I make a judgment on that. East Midlands Strategic Health Authority said it "utterly refuted" Mr Walker's claims, and had acted at all times "in the interest of patients."