The number of complaints to the NHS about GP and dental care has hit a record high as patients struggle to get an appointment, official figures show.
In 2022/2023 there were 125,584 complaints in the primary care sector – including GPs and dentists – more than twice as many as ten years ago with 52,703 complaints.
Of the 112,189 complaints about general practitioners, 23,567 related to waiting time for an appointment, failure to request an appointment or the length of consultations.
Other complaints include patients who were unhappy that their doctor refused to refer them for scans or to a consultant; refused them a prescription; or misdiagnosed.
Last year there were 16,087 complaints about dentists – a third increase in five years.
In 2022/2023 there were 125,584 complaints in the primary care sector – including GPs and dentists – more than twice as many as ten years ago with 52,703 complaints. The number of complaints in primary care also increased by 4.6 per cent within a year and one in three complaints (32 per cent) were fully upheld. However, complaints about hospital and community health services fell by 1.5 per cent compared to 2021/2022, with 27.6 per cent confirmed
NHS Digital data published today shows that 39.6 per cent of all GP appointments in England in September took place on the same day the patient called and sought help. Patients can specifically request an appointment on a specific date in the future
Again, patients were often dissatisfied with the difficulties they had in reaching a dentist or with the quality of care they received in the dentist’s chair.
It followed reports of patients having to do “do-it-yourself dentistry”, including having their own teeth extracted, because they were unable to register with an NHS dentist.
Figures released by NHS Digital today show that separate new data from the same organization shows that the number of fully qualified full-time equivalent GPs has fallen by 254 in a year.
The number of initial complaints rose by 4.6 percent within a year and every third complaint (32 percent) was completely justified.
However, complaints about hospital and community health services fell by 1.5 per cent compared to 2021/2022, with 27.6 per cent remaining.
Most new health complaints in hospitals and communities are related to poor communication, at 16.6 percent.
Read more: How doctors skip the NHS queue to be treated faster than you
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, president of the Royal College of GPs, said: “It is sad and worrying to hear that GPs are receiving an increased number of complaints due to difficult access – our patients should have the option of seeing a GP when they need one.” We share their frustration because it is difficult to get appointments.
“The unfortunate reality is that our hardworking and dedicated GPs often become the ‘sin men’ as a result of the government’s inability to fund and adequately fund primary care.”
Eddie Crouch, chairman of the British Dental Association, said: “It is no surprise that complaints are increasing in NHS dentistry, but these access problems were created in Westminster and that is where the fault lies.”
“It will get worse if ministers do not implement reforms and investments.”
Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman Daisy Cooper said: “Every day thousands of people across the country struggle to make an appointment with their GP or dentist.”
An NHS spokesman said: “Staff across the NHS are working hard to meet increased demand. GPs are making half a million more appointments each week than before the pandemic, while NHS dentists will make 32.5 appointments in 2022/2023. One million treatment cycles – an increase of almost a quarter since last year.
“In line with our commitment to restoring access to primary care, earlier this year the NHS published a plan to modernize telephone systems to make it easier for people to contact their GP practice, while adding more than 31,000 additional staff since 2019 become.” teams. to realize even more agreements.’
Dr David Wrigley, vice-chairman of the British Medical Association’s GP Committee, said: “GPs want to see our patients as quickly as possible, but despite our best efforts we are currently experiencing the effects of more than a decade of neglect in common practice.”
“It is no coincidence that complaints have increased during this time, as patients are understandably increasingly dissatisfied with the availability of appointments.”
“The government has failed to adequately fund general practice and has consistently adopted an approach that ignores the issue of co-payment.”
“The NHS has lost the equivalent of 2,062 full-time, fully qualified GPs since 2015 and we now have far too few GPs caring for greater numbers of patients, while the patient profile in England is changing as people live longer and become more complex. with diseases.”‘
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
