What constitutes a complaint?
In recent years we have seen a culture change resulting in a
large increase in complaints and actions against GPs; and indeed
patients are sometime actively encouraged to lay complaints in
circumstances that might have previously been resolved amicably. A
doctor who is the subject of a complaint is by no means necessarily
falling short in standards of practice, and by the same token, is
not necessarily debarred from Fellowship. At the same time, the
College has a responsibility, so far as possible, to avoid laying
itself open to possible embarrassment. It is perfectly possible for
Fellowship to be awarded even with an outstanding complaint,
provided we can be satisfied on available evidence that it is not
likely to affect the good name of the College.
The College encourages applications for Fellowship even if the
Candidate has any pending or upheld complaints. A complaint must be
declared on the Registration form and the matter will be handled by
the Chairman of the Fellowship Committee with the utmost
sensitivity, discretion and speed.
On the basis of the information provided, the Chairman of the
Fellowship Committee will either approve the Candidate’s progress
to Fellowship (subject to the normal ratification by Council) or if
circumstances require it, defer a decision until outstanding issues
are clarified. By no means will this information be made available
outside the Fellowship Committee.