Complaints about overseas doctors increase 12-fold

There was a 12-fold increase in the number of complaints made against overseas doctors last year, according to the Medical Council’s annual report.

A record 411 complaints were received about doctors in 2016, up from 369 (11 per cent) a year earlier. This is equivalent to one complaint being made for every 50 doctors.

The number of complaints made against doctors who qualified outside the EU soared to 90 last year, from seven in 2015 and 58 in 2014. Complaints against Irish-trained doctors were up by 12.5 per cent.

Three-quarters of complaints were made by members of the public and the rest were made by the council itself. The typical doctor facing a complaint was a middle-aged man, who was trained in Ireland and is on the specialist register, according to council member Dr John Barragry.

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One in five complaints related to communications issues. In 85 per cent of cases, no further action was deemed necessary after an initial examination, while in 10 per cent were sent forward to the fitness to practise committee. Five per cent were resolved by other means such as mediation.

Behind closed doors

Last year also saw a massive increase in the number of fitness to practise inquiries held behind closed doors. In 2016, the council held 20 public inquiries and 25 in private, compared to 18 in public and 12 in private in 2015.

A majority of requests for cases to be heard in private comes from complainants, according to the council.

Medical Council chief executive Bill Prasifka said cases were becoming more complicated and were taking longer to hear, and this was putting a strain on the council's resources.

Six doctors had their registrations cancelled last year, while another 29 received less serious sanctions from the council.

The number of doctors registered in Ireland has reached an all-time high, at 21,795, the report shows, a 6 per cent increase on 2015.

Six out of 10 doctors on the register were trained in Ireland and 27 per cent qualified outside the EU, the report shows.

The current register includes 2,700 doctors who registered last year for the first time. The council says it recognises the need for a bespoke training programme for new doctors, which may be delivered by distance learning.

A separate report published by the council on the training of young doctors has found that 36 per cent of trainees experienced bullying or harassment in their postings, up 2 points on 2014. Four per cent felt physically unsafe in their workplace. A slight majority (51 per cent) felt medical school prepared them well for their intern year of working in hospitals.