GP and dentist complaints in Buckinghamshire soar above pre-pandemic levels

Complaints about GPs and dentists in Buckinghamshire have soared above levels seen before Covid, new figures show.

Massive pressure has been put on GP and dental surgeries since the pandemic started, which led to higher demand for medical services and backlogs building for appointments.

New data from NHS Digital shows 1,612 complaints were made in the former NHS Buckinghamshire CCG area in the year to March – up 80% from the 896 made in the year to March 2019.

NHS Digital did not collate data on complaints for 2019-20 due to the pandemic.

Of last year's complaints, 481 (30%) were fully upheld – meaning the medical provider was found to be in the wrong.

This was down from 2018-19, when 33% were upheld.

Nationally, GPs accounted for the majority of complaints, with 99,500 made in 2021-22 – up 37% from 72,400 in 2018-19.

Dentists saw a smaller rise, with complaints increasing by 2% from 14,100 to 14,300.

The Royal College of GPs, which represents the profession, said GPs were "doing their absolute best in exceptionally difficult circumstances".

Profession Kamila Hawthorne, chair of RCGP, said that "the vast majority of patients are satisfied with the care they received".

And called on the Government to remedy the "spiralling workload and workforce pressures" faced by GPs, urging it to take on a new recruitment and retention strategy.

The British Medical Association, a trade union for medical staff, said it understands patients' frustrations – but that practices are facing "unbearable pressures".

Across England, the most common reason for complaining was 'communications', listed on 15% of complaints, while for dentists, the largest proportion of complaints were about 'clinical treatment' (24%).

Separate NHS Digital figures show GPs carried out 32 million appointments in October – the highest figure since November 2017, when records are first available.

An NHS England spokesperson said GP staff are working "non-stop" to provide patients with the care they need.

“While seven out of 10 patients report a good experience at their practice, the NHS is determined to make it easier to get an appointment, which is why we have recruited over 21,200 additional staff since 2019 and improved practice telephone systems so that people can speak to staff more quickly and easily,” they said.