NHS Highland has apologised “unreservedly” to staff who were not treated properly after a review of bullying allegations found hundreds of workers experienced inappropriate behaviour.

Meanwhile the Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said the situation could have been avoided if a proposed national whistleblowing officer had been in post at the time.

Ms Freeman commissioned an independent investigation in November after concerns raised by a group of senior clinicians at the health board were revealed by the Herald. The review by John Sturrock QC, published earlier this month, found a “significant majority” of the 340 people who engaged with the review said they had experienced or were still experiencing fear, intimidation and inappropriate behaviour at work. It said many people feel unable to speak out and believe there is no safe mechanism for them to do so.

Ms Freeman told a Holyrood committee having the proposed independent national whistleblowing officer could have been used by the four consultants to raise their concerns more readily.

In a statement Boyd Robertson, interim chairman of NHS Highland, said the board fully accepts the recommendations in Mr Sturrock’s report. He said: “We apologise unreservedly to those members of staff who have not been treated according to the high standards we expect. The board acknowledges that there were shortcomings in the way it dealt with the issues raised and will reflect upon how it must improve.”

He added: “In the coming months, the Health Board will focus on healing, reconciliation and building a positive culture based upon care and compassion, and dignity and respect for everyone. Values such as openness, honesty and responsibility will underpin an approach which will also deliver quality care.”

In its recommendations, the report called for effective facilities to be introduced to allow those wishing to speak out to do so. Ms Freeman told Holyrood’s Health and Sport Committee the national whistleblowing officer “provides that safer route” to raise concerns. She added: “The Sturrock report is actually about a great deal more than whistleblowing - it is about a workplace culture that was operating poorly to the extent the four individuals felt compelled to raise their concerns publicly. Had this been in place then, it may well have been that they would have raised that through this office.”

The prospective new national whistleblowing officer, Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Rosemary Agnew, said had the role been in place “[this] would have come out into the open a lot sooner.”