Nearly all doctors have faced a complaint in their career, survey finds

Abstract

Zosia Kmietowicz Nearly all GPs (97%)who responded to a survey from theMedicalDefenceUnion (MDU) said theyhad received a complaint against them during the course of their career, with slightly lower figures for consultants (88%) and trainees (71%). The survey, conducted in December 2020 was sent to 32 000 MDU members and received 741 responses (a 2.32% response rate), 296 from GPs, 274 from consultants, and 59 from trainees. The main findings were: • About half of complaints were made within the past five years • The most common complaints (46%) about GPs were related to an alleged delayed or missed diagnosis • The most common complaints (30%) about consultants were related to alleged treatment complications, while most complaints against trainees (43%) related to an alleged breakdown in communication • Of the complaints against GPs, 40% were resolved locally within the individual’s own clinical team. Among consultants 55% of complaints were resolved at senior management level while 45% were resolved within the individual’s own clinical team. Most complaints (66%) against trainees were resolved within the clinical team • GPs were most likely to say that the complaint had an impact on their professional (70%) and personal lives (65%), although about half of all doctors said their lives were affected in some way.