46% increase in complaints against doctors

Male doctors were twice as likely to have issues raised about them, than females.

New figures show there was a 46% increase in complaints made against doctors between 2008 and 2012.

The Medical Council has published its first ever review of complaints made against GPs, which finds that male doctors are twice as likely to have issues raised about them, than females.

There were 1,723 complaints made against doctors in the four years to 2012, with an increase of 46% over that time.

Male GPs were twice more likely to be the subject of complaints than females were, with most concerns raised against older male doctors aged between 56 and 64, and those who qualified in Ireland.

It also found 325 doctors had more than one complaint made about them.

Some 86% of complaints were made by members of the public, and 221 fitness-to-practice inquiries were held by the Medical Council.