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Disgraced health boss Cynthia Bower should have her pension docked if allegations of a shocking cover-up over baby deaths are proved against her, Jeremy Hunt said today.

The Health Secretary also called for a cull of NHS inspectors who are not “up to” carrying out proper checks at hospitals across England.

Amid warnings that 3,000 patients a year are dying unnecessarily in hospitals, the Metropolitan Police was set to consider a probe into the alleged cover-up at England’s health watchdog.

A force spokesman said it will consider whether to launch a criminal investigation when it receives a formal complaint being sent by MP Tim Farron.

MPs also demanded Ms Bower, the former chief executive of the Care Quality Commission, be forced to come to Parliament to defend her actions.

She was one of three officials at a CQC meeting in March last year when another employee was allegedly told to “delete” an internal review which raised concerns over an inspection at Furness General Hospital, Cumbria.

Ms Bower, 57, told independent consultants brought in by the CQC’s new management that she could not recall the meeting but denies saying the report should be deleted and adds that she would have “countermanded” any such instruction if she had heard it.

She resigned from her £195,000-a-year post in February 2012, after years of controversy over the CQC’s performance, having built up a pension pot estimated at £1.3 million.

Mr Hunt today said CQC lawyers are examining whether pensions of individuals engulfed in the scandal could be clawed back if they are found to have been part of the cover-up.

Asked what action should be taken against those responsible, he told BBC radio: “These are very, very serious allegations and they should have very, very serious consequences if they are proved. “I know the CQC are looking into disciplinary procedures and what can be done, what sanctions are available, whether you can have forfeiture of pensions, all those things.”

Pressed further on docking pensions, he said due process had to be followed but he backed such action “absolutely in principle”, adding: “It’s totally appalling that this kind of thing should happen.”

He also branded the CQC’s former arrangements as “crazy” because the same inspectors could be sent into hospitals, dental surgeries or nursing homes. Some of them were also former firemen, police officers and social workers rather than medical experts.

The new bosses of the CQC are due to appear before the Commons health committee shortly but MPs called on Ms Bower, her then deputy Jill Finney, and media manager Anna Jefferson, who were also at the March meeting, to face questions from MPs too.

Charlotte Leslie, who sits on the Commons health committee, said: “These are all symptoms of a network of covering up within the NHS and it’s likely, tragically, that more of these incidents will come to light. We need a full investigation to bust the network open.”

The internal review compiled by Louise Dineley, head of regulatory risk and quality, raised concerns over a 20120 CQC inspection of Furness General Hospital which found it was safe despite concerns over baby deaths.

Ms Dineley was allegedly told by Ms Finney to delete the review at a meeting in March 2012.

Ms Jefferson is alleged by Ms Finney to have said of the report: “This can never be in a public domain.” All three accused women deny the allegations against them.