The number of complaints received by the Medical Council against doctors would continue to increase as patients were more aware of their rights, it was stated yesterday.
The chairman of the Fitness to Practise Committee of the council, JB Healy, said there had been a gradual increase in the number of complaints.
Another reason for the rise was that the lack of resources meant that patients were sometimes under greater strain, he said.
Mr Healy was commenting on a report from the professional standards department of the council showing that the number of complaints received by the Fitness to Practise Committee increased by 15 per cent for the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2004.
It revealed that the number of complaints received for the year ended December 31st, 2004 amounted to 270. This represented a slight decrease for the previous year which saw 288 complaints.
However, the first quarter of this year, had seen a marked increase in the number of complaints received. As at March 31st, the committee received 83 complaints which represented a 15 per cent increase on the same period in 2004.
Yesterday at a press briefing, Mr Healy said: "That trend is going to continue. There is more treatment inter-action taking place and the whole population is more aware of their rights."