Out-of-hours cover provided by the NHS sees a rise in complaints

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."

Complaints about individual GP's are often brought about through their workloads which they can not avoid and may sometimes be unjust.  Other complaints arise due particular circumstances which may be out of the GP's control.  However this in no way helps the complainants in their own suffering which entitles them to complain.