More people than ever officially complained about their
treatment at the hands of the NHS during 2009/10, official
statistics have revealed, with allegations of medical
negligence featuring heavily in the range of issues cited.
Data released by the NHS Information Centre showed that the
number of complaints had climbed from 89,139 in 2008/09 to 101,077
- a staggering increase of 13.4%, the biggest since records began
in 1997/98.
Previously, the biggest yearly rise was 10.6% between 1999/2000
and 2000/01. Since 1997/98, there has been an average annual
increase of 1.1%.
The NHS has had to cope with problems on several fronts - namely
hospital infections and claims for medical
negligence - in the last few years, problems that no doubt
added to the number of complaints.
The highest number of complaints (44.2%, or 44,682) related to
the medical profession, with issues concerning nurses, midwives and
health visitors coming next at 22%, or 22,203.
Most people (42.2%) reported problems with "all aspects of
clinical treatment" as their main bone of contention, although the
number of of complaints about
general practice shot up by 4.4%.
All NHS trusts and community services are required to supply
data for the report but it is not compulsory for foundation trusts
to do so.