The NHS has developed a "widespread culture of fear", a think-tank claimed today.

Centre-right think-tank Policy Exchange disclosed three government-commissioned reports, one of which accused the Department of Health of being more interested in costs than clinical quality.

Policy Exchange used Freedom of Information (FOI) law to obtain the documents, prepared for DH in 2008 as the government undertook a major restructuring of NHS regulation.

One report, Quality Oversight In England, by the Joint Commission International, identified "the pervasive culture of fear in the NHS and certain elements of the Department of Health".

Another, by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, said the NHS "has developed a widespread culture more of fear and compliance, than of learning, innovation and enthusiastic participation in improvement".

Research group Rand Health raised "concern that the Department of Health is more interested in costs than clinical quality".

Today's revelations follow high-profile failings in care at health trusts in Tunbridge Wells, Mid Staffordshire and Basildon.

Henry Featherstone, from the Health and Social Care Unit at Policy Exchange, said: "The reports detail a frightening catalogue of flaws in patient safety procedures - and government has dragged its feet over implementing a robust system of inspection and improvement, even after these flaws have been highlighted in the strongest possible terms."

A Department of Health spokesman insisted that the NHS in england was an international leader in patient safety.

"We have set up and work alongside the National Patient Safety Agency to encourage medical staff to report and learn from incidents even when no harm was caused to the patient," they added.

"Every death or serious injury due to mistakes in medical care must be investigated and the lessons must be learned and acted upon."