THE NUMBER of people complaining about doctors to the Medical Council fell last year for the second year in a row.
The council received 295 complaints about doctors last year, down from 318 in 2008. Some 343 complaints had been lodged in 2007.
Medical Council figures released yesterday show most complaints made in the last year were over professional standards and treatment issues.
A smaller number alleged rudeness on the part of a doctor, alcohol abuse, failure to supply medical records or reports, and a failure to attend a patient.
Some 22 doctors were complained about more than once, with most complaints made about GPs or hospital consultants.
Most complaints do not proceed to fitness-to-practise inquiries after being considered by the preliminary proceedings committee.