NHS whistleblower Julie Bailey abused on Facebook after being awarded CBE

Cure the NHS activist Julie Bailey and nurse Helene Donnelly were both mentioned in the New Year Honours List for their work as whistleblowers

Whistleblower Julie Bailey, of the campaign group 'Cure the NHS' poses outside the Houses of Parliament with a copy of the report of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust Foundation Public Inquiry. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

An NHS whistleblower who acted to expose the failings at Stafford Hospital has been abused online.

Julie Bailey received a CBE in the 2014 New Year Honours List for her services to the care of the elderly, but has now said Facebook users have accused her of “wrecking” health services in the West Midlands town.

Facebook users posted their opposition to Ms Bailey’s award on the Support Stafford Hospital page. One claimed her CBE was a “complete insult” to hospital staff.

Ms Bailey founded the Cure the NHS campaign group after he mother died at the hospital in 2007.

She used the organisation to lead calls for the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry which, uncovered “terrible and unnecessary suffering” that affected hundreds of patients.

Administrations have since recommended that Stafford Hospital’s services be dealt with by a neighbouring NHS trust.

Proposed cuts of £25 million per year have also been criticised by local campaigners, who fear some services will now “dwindle away” from the town.

Ms Bailey, who has previously received insults and threats online, said: “Cure the NHS had nothing to do with the changes to services at the hospital.

"Our priority has only ever been patient safety, if that means transferring services to other hospitals then we support that move.

Helene Donnelly, a nurse who became a whistleblower, was made an OBE in the New Year Honours List.

Additional reporting by Press Association