The number of complaints made about doctors to their regulatory body rose to 342 last year, latest figures show. Eithne Donnellan, Health Correspondent, reports.
The figures, released yesterday by the Medical Council, indicate 37 more complaints were lodged against doctors in 2006 than in 2005.
Furthermore, they show 26 doctors received more than one complaint in 2006. There were twice as many complaints against GPs as hospital consultants.
Most complaints were in relation to professional standards and treatment but 28 alleged doctors had failed to communicate or were rude, 15 alleged alcohol or drug abuse by a doctor or concerned irresponsible prescribing while 10 alleged doctors had failed to attend to them.
Some 32 of the complaints made last year were found to merit a full fitness to practise inquiry. This compared to 19 in 2005.
During the whole of 2006 some 19 fitness to practise inquiries were concluded by the Medical Council and they resulted in 12 doctors being found guilty of professional misconduct. Three were struck off the medical register, the name of one was suspended from the medical register, six had conditions imposed on their practice, and five were censured/advised or admonished. In four cases no sanctions were imposed.
In three cases sanctions were imposed on doctors without their being found guilty of professional misconduct. Meanwhile, the Medical Council has said it has, over the past few months, received a large number of phone calls from patients seeking access to their medical records where their GP has died.
"In many of these cases patients have been unable to retrieve their medical records because no provision has been made by their GPs for files to be transferred back to the patients or to another doctor," it said.
It urged doctors to make "adequate provision for the transfer of patient files in the event of incapacity or death".
In a separate move the Medical Council is currently reviewing its ethical guide. Those wishing to make submissions in relation to the review should do so by September 7th.