The survey was carried out by the CV checking company NDF Associates using the Freedom of Information Act.

It found a third of the 40 Trusts polled had had problems with fraudulent applications.

The head of the company Neil Fawcett said some NHS Trusts are failing to do proper checks, leaving the door open to applicants with fake qualifications.

“We all know in this day and age that certificates are easily obtained,” he said.

“You only have to go on the internet to buy them. We would say you should verify those qualifications by going back to the institution that awarded them.

“If the surgeon who was going to operate on me was not qualified I would be very worried.”

Sky News has seen responses to the survey.

Leeds Mental Health NHS Trust said that: “Instances have come to light where members of staff have misled the trust in relation to their criminal record.”

West London Mental Health NHS Trust identified “…one individual, whose true identity came to light through an anonymous tip off.”

And Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust admitted “We do not undertake CV and career checks of locums or agency staff…” Wherever possible it relies on agencies to do the checks.

Stephen McKenzie of the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service said he was not surprised by the results.

He said: “The NHS is such a large organisation with 1.3 million employees, plus there are agency staff, dentists and people contracted. So the law of averages says you will get a few people through. We are trying to get NHS employers to check all their staff.”

Sky News tracked down a surgeon who was last week suspended from the medical register for faking records of at least 41 operations.

Dr Polycarp Gana had tried to give the impression that he was more skilled than he really was.

The General Medical Council’s Fitness to Practice Panel told him: “Your statements were intended to give the impression that that you had attained a level of surgical ability, experience and professional judgement that was inaccurate. Had your deception not been exposed patients might have been put at risk.”

Dr Gana refused to comment.

In the last fortnight alone the General Medical Council has begun cases against seven doctors who are charged with misleading their employers.

In a statement the The Department of Health said NHS organisations must check the identities and qualifications of new staff and verify whether they have a criminal record.

It read: “Falsifying a CV is completely unacceptable. It can lead to patient care being compromised.”

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