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The number of official
complaints about GPs totalled
40,000 during 2008/09, a 12% rise on the previous year.
The
latest official figures from the
NHS, for 2008/09 found
that 48,597 formal concerns were recorded against GPs
and dentists with the Patients Association estimating
that difficulties in getting an appointment and the
problems associated with out-of-hours care were largely
to blame.
Alternative figures, from the
Medical Defence Union
(MDU),
supported these statistics. The MDU logged 517
complaints in 2007/08, up from 337 in 2005/06. Almost a
quarter of the complaints here were concerning a delay
or failure in diagnosing a condition.
The MDU poll revealed that 120 complaints concerned
allegations of apparent failures or delays in diagnosis
or referral.
75 complaints had come about following the
death of a patient and 71 were related to allegations of
rudeness or that the doctor had an uncaring or off-hand
manner.
Dr Stephen Green, head of risk management at MDU
said: “out-of-hours care continues to represent a
significant and growing proportion of the complaints we
see.
We are advising out-of-hours doctors to pay
particular attention to the need for clear, unambiguous
communication with patients and colleagues, including
accurate and comprehensive note-taking and arranging
follow-up if necessary.”
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