7/27/2019 Number of Complaints About Doctors Made by Both Colleagues and Patients More Than Doubles Since 2007 _ Mail Online

1/8

show ad

Number of complaints about doctors made byboth colleagues and patients more than

doubles since 2007

General Medical Council report showed more complaints are being made each

year

Most concerns raised by patients and their family members

Large number of complaints made by doctors about each other

Female practi tioners are less likely to be complained about than their malecolleagues, research says

GPs over 50 received more complaints than younger doctors

By Jennifer Smith

PUBLISHED: 00:39 GMT, 16 October 2013 | UPDATED: 00:39 GMT, 16 October 2013

1

Viewcomments

The number of complaints about doctors made by their colleagues or patients is on the rise, according tonew figures.

Data from the General Medical Council (GMC) shows a jump in both patient complaints and the number ofdoctors willing to speak up about the poor standards of other medics.

In 2012, the GMC received 8,109 complaints - a 24 per cent increase since 2011 and a 104 per centincrease since 2007.

7/27/2019 Number of Complaints About Doctors Made by Both Colleagues and Patients More Than Doubles Since 2007 _ Mail Online

2/8

New figures have revealed the number of complaints made about doctors is on the rise

The new data reveals that between 2007 and 2012, the overall number of complaints from the public roseby 87 per cent to 5,014.

While most came from patients and their friends and relatives, a significant amount were made by doctors'employers and concerned colleagues.

The GMC, which regulates around 250,000 doctors in the UK, said the overall number of complaints is verysmall when the number of interactions between doctors and patients is taken into account.

The Council said the high expectations of patients and willingness of some doctors to point out areas ofconcern compared to others should be taken into account when considering the rise.

Overall, 54 per cent of the complaints were about clinical care and communication with patients.

Many made by doctors (38 per cent) concerned conflict of interest or criminal convictions held by theircolleagues.

Among the public, people aged 46 to 60 were the most likely to complain, with women more likely to speakup than men.

GPs were more likely to be complained about than other doctors, and male medics were twice as likely toattract criticism than their female counterparts.

Twenty-two per cent of male GPs received a complaint compared with just 11 per cent of female GPs.

The number of doctors aged over 50 who were complained about was higher than for doctors aged 30 to50.

7/27/2019 Number of Complaints About Doctors Made by Both Colleagues and Patients More Than Doubles Since 2007 _ Mail Online

3/8

Female GPs were less likely to be complained about than their male colleagues,

according to the study. Posed by models

This was particularly true for GPs, the State of Medical Education and Practice report showed.

A third of all complaints received met the threshold for a full investigation by the GMC, but only 20 per centof those lodged by the public satisfied the same criteria.

Eighty-four per cent of all concerns raised by employers merited an investigation, as did 48 per cent ofthose made by doctors.

Professor Sir Peter Rubin, chair of the GMC, said: 'Overall the standard of care that patients receive in theUK is good and doctors continue to deserve the trust and respect of the public.

'The GMC has an important role to play in protecting patients and ensuring that doctors practise to thehighest possible standard.

'Complaints from members of the public, doctors and other professionals are invaluable in helping us to dothis.

'Complaints also give the health service a chance to ref lect and improve the care that patients receive.

'However what our report shows is that some patients dont know where to go to raise a concern abouttheir treatment and more needs to be done to help them raise issues.

'Making a complaint about a doctor can be stressful and it is important that concerns are raised with theright organisation so patients are not passed from pillar to post.'ends

Anna Bradley, chair of Healthwatch England, said: 'Its no surprise that people dont know who to go to withtheir complaint as the system is far too complex.

'Most patients and people receiving care dont know the difference between the GMC, the Care QualityCommission and their local complaints advocacy services. They just want their complaint dealt with.

'But people arent just failing to report complaints because they dont know where to go.

'We know from our own research that more than half of those who experienced a problem in the last three

7/27/2019 Number of Complaints About Doctors Made by Both Colleagues and Patients More Than Doubles Since 2007 _ Mail Online

4/8

years didnt report it because they simply didnt trust the system to listen or take any action.

'We all have a right to safe, dignified and high quality care, backed up by an effective complaints system forwhen things go wrong. The Healthwatch network can play a central role helping people understand where togo with their complaint, making things as simple and straightforward as possible.'

MOST WATCHED NEWS VIDEOS

Previous123Next

Female Rowing Club down to birthday suits for charity...

Child accidentally kills man at shooting range with single...

'Singing' sloth belts out 'I Will Always Love You'

Graphic: News report shows horrific effects of new drug...

Terrifying real-life moment thief holds motorcyclist at...

Alpine ibex walking on dam wall at Italy's Gran Paradiso...

7/27/2019 Number of Complaints About Doctors Made by Both Colleagues and Patients More Than Doubles Since 2007 _ Mail Online

5/8

Fans crowd Hillary Clinton at Chatham House, London

SCENE FOOTAGE: British racing driver killed in Porsche

Moment Minister tells an asylum seeker should leave the UK

Mother of murdered Stephen Lawrence made a Baroness in HoL

Caught on camera. Police thermal imaging finds cannabis...

A dog with manners helps canine friend into home

MOST READ NEWS

Previous123Next

A palace on wheels it ain't! A naff blue bath, cheapo...

7/27/2019 Number of Complaints About Doctors Made by Both Colleagues and Patients More Than Doubles Since 2007 _ Mail Online

6/8

EXCLUSIVE: The sisters who are the first proof that Russian...

A new low for binge drink Britain: Woman nightclub reveller...

Labour's new spokesman for women and a topless shoot at 15:...

Fearless London traffic warden places ticket on Hillary...

Savile and the tapes that damn the police: Revealed, the...

Life and death in the fast lane: Chinese police leave dead...

Dancer dies in blaze after car hits a deer: Fireball on dual...

Brazil here we come! England book place in 2014 World Cup...

7/27/2019 Number of Complaints About Doctors Made by Both Colleagues and Patients More Than Doubles Since 2007 _ Mail Online

7/8

Click to rate

Parents of Madeleine McCann speak of their delight at...

Crimewatch callers 'name' Maddie suspect: McCanns delighted...

Fans reeling as car crash horror hits Doc Martin: After...

Comments (1)

Share what you think

NewestOldestBest ratedWorst rated

View all

Report comment

Jane55, Lincolnshire, 2 hours ago

Does the survey say what nationalalities these doctors or nurses are by any chance as it said in another article the other daythat hospitals were going abroad to recruit nurses why not recruit from here you're not telling me there are none wanting a job.

410

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now

Like

MailOnlineFollow

@MailOnline

Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd

Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group

Associated Newspapers Ltd

7/27/2019 Number of Complaints About Doctors Made by Both Colleagues and Patients More Than Doubles Since 2007 _ Mail Online

8/8