More allegations staff at Medway Maritime Hospital were bullied have been revealed by an MP after he prompted an urgent debate in Parliament.

Gillingham and Rainham MP Rehman Chishti raised the issue during business questions after a report backed claims a top surgeon was victimised by colleagues.

Gulzar Mufti, who was the Gillingham hospital's medical director for five years, said an independent report backed allegations a handful of top staff had run a "persistent" campaign.

As previously reported by the Messenger, the Medway NHS Foundation Trust warned him not to release any details from the report, which bosses said was confidential.

Now Mr Chishti has said other hospital professionals have come forward with similar claims.

He told MPs on Thursday: "An independent report found there were actions that could be construed as bullying of a senior surgeon, Mr Mufti.

"Since then, other professionals at the hospital have contacted my office to say they have encountered such behaviour. That followed a recent survey showing one in five had encountered harassment or been abused.

"My constituents are very concerned about the implications that may have for patient care."

It is thought the alleged bullying started after Mr Mufti began monitoring colleagues' performance.

The 64-year-old urologist, who left Medway for Barbados, said: "I and my family had a very difficult time for two years. Eight or nine people came together and put me through torture. I wanted to draw a line under it and leave Medway."

In April 2008, the surgeon was the subject of an anonymous email slur, seen by the Messenger, which claimed he had lied about his age.

Later, colleagues wrote to the General Medical Council bringing Mr Mufti's conduct into question. It is understood the report said this letter was malicious and staff relations were like a "war".

An NHS Trust spokesman defended the decision to keep the report secret, saying: "The trust has a duty to protect the confidentiality of all its employees.

"As part of that duty, the Trust is following standard practice and this is particularly important in this situation as internal processes have not yet been concluded.”

The spokesman added: “Allegations of bullying are taken extremely seriously. That is why a third party report was commissioned.”