Rise in complaints made to GP and dental practices

The number of written complaints to GP and dental practices in Sunderland has spiked over the past two years, according to NHS data.

Figures show that GP and dental practices in the Sunderland clinical commissioning group (CCG) received 480 written complaints between April 2017 and March 2018, compared with 337 the previous year.

That is an increase of 42% – but medical experts say that there are many factors that could cause complaint numbers to vary year-onyear.

In Sunderland, 30% of the 434 complaints that were dealt with in 2017-18 were upheld.