Complaints against the GMC

Dear Z. Hussain

Information Request F10/3454/JM

Thank you for your email of 16 December 2010 in which you request
information in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

We will consider your request and you will normally receive the
information you seek within the 20 working day limit set by the FOIA.

The FOIA lists a number of exemptions that may prevent the release of
part, or all, of the information that you have requested. We will make
an assessment of the requested information and if it is subject to an
exemption you will be informed of this, together with details of your
right of appeal.

Your request has been allocated to Janet Mauldridge. If you have any
queries concerning your request you can contact Ms Mauldridge on 0161
923 6324 or email [email address].

Yours sincerely

Sarah Leigh
Information Access Team Administrator
0161 923 6398
[email address]

General Medical Council
3 Hardman Street
Manchester
M3 3AW

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Our ref: F10/3454/JM

Dear Z. Hussain

I refer to your email dated 16 December 2010 in which your requested
information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

You enquired about the number of complaints received by the GMC for the
fiscal year 2009-10. The GMC deals with complaints received about
registered medical practitioners which may raise concerns about their
fitness to practise. During the period 1 April 2009 - 31 March 2010 the
GMC received 4,626 enquiries about doctors. An enquiry is defined as
information received that may raise concerns about one or more doctors'
fitness to practise.

I hope the above information is useful. If I can be of further assistance
please contact me.

Yours sincerely

Janet Mauldridge

Information Access Officer

0161 923 6324

[email address]

General Medical Council

3 Hardman Street

Manchester

M3 3AW

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Dear Z. Hussain

Information request F11/3491/JM

Thank you for your email received today clarifying your previous request
(ref: F10/3454/JM).

I have now set this up a new request (ref: F11/3491/JM) and allocated it
to Janet Mauldridge. We will deal with the request under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and you should normally receive this within
the 20 working-day deadline set by the FOIA.

If you have any queries please contact Ms Mauldridge.

Yours sincerely

Sarah Leigh

Information Access Team Administrator

0161 923 6398

[1][email address]

General Medical Council

3 Hardman Street

Manchester

M3 3AW

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Our ref: F11/3491/JM

Dear Z. Hussain

I refer to your email dated 10 January 2011 and apologise that I
misunderstood your original information request.

I have now obtained figures for the numbers of complaints received by both
the Standards and Fitness to Practise Directorate and Registration and
Resources Directorate of the GMC during the fiscal year 2009-2010.

The Standards and Fitness to Practise Directorate received a total of 429
complaints. This figure includes complaints received via the Office of the
Chair and Chief Executive (OCCE) and the Customer Service Manager. It also
includes complaints received in the directorate about service levels or
staff.

This figure does not necessarily give a true reflection of the number of
complaints received by our Standards and Fitness to Practise Directorate
as some complaints are addressed directly to individuals and teams. These
complaints are dealt with at a local level and are not counted in the
above figure.

I should also stress that quantifying the number of actual complaints
about the GMC is somewhat subjective. For example, a complainant may be
dissatisfied with the outcome of their complaint, which they may see as a
complaint about the GMC rather than with the outcome of their complaint.
For the purposes of providing you with these statistics we have classified
any level of dissatisfaction as a complaint.

In the same period the Registration and Resources Directorate received a
total of 941 complaints. This figure includes 47 complaints addressed to
the Office of the Chair and Chief Executive (OCCE) which may have been
counted separately by both Directorates. This figure encompasses all
complaints received by teams within this directorate.

Despite the caveats I have outlined above I hope this information is
useful to you.

Yours sincerely

Janet Mauldridge
Information Access Officer
0161 923 6324
[email address]

General Medical Council

3 Hardman Street

Manchester

M3 3AW

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