ICGP to conduct survey into doctor stress amid calls for new complaints process

A formal complaints mechanism that lets doctors resolve issues raised by patients — before any possible litigation — could ease pressure on medics, according to a GP.

Diarmuid Quinlan is among those who will address the Spotlight On Risk conference at Dublin’s Convention Centre, aimed at GPs from Ireland and organised by the Medical Protection Society.

The MPS recently published a survey of GPs in Ireland, showing that 90% of those questioned said they had experienced work-based stress in the past year. Among the reasons given were raised expectations among patients and the risk of litigation.