Senior clinicians have called for action to end a "long-standing bullying culture" they claim is damaging patient care at a Scottish health board.

Medics at NHS Highland have highlighted "serious concerns", accusing bosses of suppressing criticism and creating a "culture of fear and intimidation".

The problems have been going on "for at least a decade", the doctors claimed, creating a "serious detrimental effect on staff" as well as an "adverse effect on the quality of care we are able to provide for patients".

The group raised their concerns in a letter to The Herald newspaper on Wednesday, insisting: "It is vital this bullying culture is exposed and finally now dealt with."

One signatory, Inverness-based GP Dr Iain Kennedy, told STV he had since spoken to other colleagues who recognised the letter's claims.

He said: "There have been five people in contact with me this morning they have all described being marginalised and intimidated.

"These are very talented people, I am talking about senior managers, senior clinicians. It tends to be when they challenge in any way or bring in their ideas, it doesn't seem to be welcomed they are taken behind closed doors and spoken to very unpleasantly.

"They have found this traumatising - the people that have spoken to me are describing developing anxiety disorders, depressive illnesses, post-traumatic stress disorder and one of them told me this morning that he was on the brink of suicide."

The four NHS Highland doctors who signed the letter said they had done so to "make clear our serious concerns around the long-standing bullying culture that exists within the health board where we work".

They wrote: "It is our belief that, for at least a decade, this practice of suppressing criticism, which emanates from the very top of the organisation, has led to a culture of fear and intimidation.

"This has had a serious detrimental effect on staff at all levels of NHS Highland, but equally importantly, has had an adverse effect on the quality of care we are able to provide for patients."

They added that the imminent departure of NHS Highland chief executive Elaine Mead meant they felt "now is the time to speak out and ensure effective action can be taken".

The doctors who signed the letter are Eileen Anderson, chairwoman of the area medical committee, its vice-chairwoman Lorien Cameron-Ross, Jonathan Ball, chairman of the GP sub-committee and Highland local medical committee chairman, and Dr Kennedy of the GP sub-committee.

They said: "This is the moment that this has to change. We urgently need fresh leadership at NHS Highland to take the brave and extensive actions required to ensure NHS Highland is a safe, positive place to work, based on a culture of openness, transparency, learning and honesty.

"That is the only way that we will be able to guarantee a safe environment, delivering high quality care for patients for the future."

NHS Highland medical director Dr Rod Harvey told STV he did not personally recognise the bullying claims and said the board was taking the matter seriously.

Dr Harvey said "I don't recognise that as systematic culture of bullying. I think the people who have written the letter have written it on the basis of the views of a limited number of people that may not represent the views of their wider constituency.

"I use the word 'may' quite carefully so I am not denying it, but I am saying it's not what I recognise."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "With the cabinet secretary having spoken with the chair of NHS Highland, we understand that they hope to meet the signatories to discuss their concerns later this week, and have also encouraged staff to come forward if they wish to report bullying.

"The welfare of staff in our NHS is paramount, and everything must be done to eradicate bullying in the workplace.

"This is why we have made clear to health boards that bullying and harassment is unacceptable, and we expect them to ensure any reported incidences are taken seriously and fully investigated."