General Medical Council complaints: swimming against the stream

Abstract

The General Medical Council receives over 5000 complaints every year.1 On 17 October 2005 a new procedure came into effect that will mean some complaints will now be referred to the local health service or primary care trust.1 Scaling down the complaints procedure in this way exposes it to claims of unfairness and partiality that could weaken the public's faith in the way complaints are dealt with and undermine their trust in doctors generally.