How to complain about a GP?

mike_456

Hello all,

I went multiple times to my GP in the last month because he has to send referral to the hospital. All that repeating visits were unnecessary because they are related to something he could have done on the very first visit. I had all documentation with me on the first visit, he didn't want to take it, then he called me after few days asking to bring documents to him. Next time he asked me for my signature and so on. And I don't see end to this. After one month he still didn't send the referral.

Is there any authority where I can make complain about this?

Thanks

Arbie

mike_456 wrote: »

Hello all,

I went multiple times to my GP in the last month because he has to send referral to the hospital. All that repeating visits were unnecessary because they are related to something he could have done on the very first visit. I had all documentation with me on the first visit, he didn't want to take it, then he called me after few days asking to bring documents to him. Next time he asked me for my signature and so on. And I don't see end to this. After one month he still didn't send the referral.

Is there any authority where I can make complain about this?

Thanks

The details aren't clear, so I'm not sure what the exact complaint is. If you do want to make a formal complaint, in the first instance, you should complain in writing to the GP practice itself.

MountainAshIRL

Officially you should complain through the hse 'your service your say'
Google it and you should find it no problem.

Arbie

MountainAshIRL wrote: »

Officially you should complain through the hse 'your service your say'
Google it and you should find it no problem.

That is the 2nd step if they are not satisfied with the GP's response.

The process is outlined here:
Private patient - http://www.healthcomplaints.ie/gp/private-patient/
Public patient - http://www.healthcomplaints.ie/gp/public-patient/

MountainAshIRL

Considering the original post, I think the best place to start is with hse your service your say.

Arbie

MountainAshIRL wrote: »

Considering the original post, I think the best place to start is with hse your service your say.

There is very little information in the original post. We don't even know if the patient was public or private.

There is a stepwise complaints process in place for a reason. If people don't start at the 1st step they may get a delayed or unsatisfactory outcome.

Wesser

Your service your say is for hse seevices only. This may not be revelant here as the patient may be a private patient of the gp. In which case it has nothing to do with the hse. It is very difficult to give the op real advice here as the information provided is very sketchy. If the op explained this in more detail they would get better answers.

mike_456

I'm private patient. The complaint is about very slow process on side of GP, one month is wasted just to send referral letter to new clinic. I had to take day off each time to visit GP, for no reason as everything could have been done on the first visit to GP. Also I have to do checkup with specials at clinic at regular intervals, this could be problem now as one month is already wasted.

Malmedicine

mike_456 wrote: »

I'm private patient. The complaint is about very slow process on side of GP, one month is wasted just to send referral letter to new clinic. I had to take day off each time to visit GP, for no reason as everything could have been done on the first visit to GP. Also I have to do checkup with specials at clinic at regular intervals, this could be problem now as one month is already wasted.

Have you actually complained to the gp himself or the practice ?

Breezer

OP, bringing an official complaint against a GP is a serious matter for both doctor and patient.

For the doctor, it generates a months-long process of being investigated, which takes up their time (that could be spent dealing with patients), costs them money, causes a huge amount of stress, reduces their performance at their job as a result, and potentially ends up with the doctor being named and shamed in the media before any findings are made against them (by law, they are named when an inquiry is opened, not when findings are made).

For the patient, it creates a barrier to them accessing healthcare (I wouldn't be very comfortable seeking help from a GP I'd put through the above process), and can result in officials/legal people going through their private medical records to investigate the complaint. Changing GPs and establishing a relationship with a new doctor is also typically a lot of hassle.

All of this can often be avoided by discussing your upset and annoyance with your GP. There's often a totally reasonable explanation, and if an apology is due to you, it can be given, before things get out of hand. Better all round for patient and doctor, and like with all disagreements, only polite.

SterlingArcher

mike_456 wrote: »

Hello all,

I went multiple times to my GP in the last month because he has to send referral to the hospital. All that repeating visits were unnecessary because they are related to something he could have done on the very first visit. I had all documentation with me on the first visit, he didn't want to take it, then he called me after few days asking to bring documents to him. Next time he asked me for my signature and so on. And I don't see end to this. After one month he still didn't send the referral.

Is there any authority where I can make complain about this?

Thanks

This is probably necro thread by now. But since sombody is resurrecting the dead.

I see more important questions. Like why are you still going this gp? do you want this person responsible for you care? Get a new gp stat.