HEALTH Secretary Jeremy Hunt is being urged to order an inquiry into allegations that a Kidderminster psychiatric nurse’s career was ruined by “unfounded allegations and bullying”.

Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier and health-campaigning ex-MP Dr Richard Taylor are backing Ingra Kirkland’s plan to demand an inquiry.

Ms Kirkland’s husband, Kidderminster author and historian Nigel Gilbert, and a group of supporters have staged a series of public demonstrations about her treatment by Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, where she worked for about 20 years.

She left the Trust in December 2011 after being accused of being involved in an anomaly over a colleague’s record-keeping.

The allegation led to her being downgraded from a community psychiatric nurse to a job on a ward and, as she was due to appear at a disciplinary hearing, she decided to accept a retirement deal.

Mr Gilbert maintains his 57-year-old wife was scared that a hearing could lead to her being sacked and losing her pension.

Ms Kirkland - then a shop steward for Unison - also signed a clause gagging her from speaking publicly about what happened.

Mr Garnier said he had advised Ms Kirkland that she should approach the Secretary of State calling for an inquiry, adding: “I don’t know the rights and wrongs of this complicated case.

“But I want to make sure that no wrong has been done to an individual and there is no harm in casting an eye over it to check that the system is working properly.”

And Dr Taylor said: “I think she has been badly treated and I am trying to help by attending a meeting between them and the chief executive of the Trust.

“The gagging order seems rather tough in his day and age, where one wants to hear from whistle blowers.”

Mr Gilbert, 61, who lives with his wife in Tynings Close, launched campaign group “Betrayed By Her Trust”.

He said she had been invited to be a witness at a colleague’s disciplinary hearing over a record-keeping anomaly.

But, out of the blue, allegations were made against Ms Kirkland herself and she was downgraded to “unqualified status”.

“This came at a time when Ingra was very vulnerable,” said Mr Gilbert.

“I had been diagnosed with cancer in October 2011, which the Trust well knew.

“They took full advantage and wrote to Ingra to say they might sack her and she would lose her pension for five years.

“This letter was accompanied by a draft agreement offering her a way out.

“They would let her retire if she signed away all legal rights and kept silent about the affair."

Mr Gilbert, who described the trust’s actions as “bullying” and the allegations against his wife as unfounded said: “We want an inquiry in which we can ask questions.

“We don’t want people hung, drawn and quartered – but we want the Trust to be accountable for its actions.”

A Trust spokesman said: “The circumstances that relate to this involve a confidential HR matter regarding a former employee of the Trust.

"As such it would not be appropriate for the Trust to provide any further comment.”