GPs Alter Care Over Fear of Complaints

A significant majority of general practitioners are modifying their standard medical practices due to concerns over patient complaints and regulatory referrals. A recent survey indicates that 78% of family doctors feel compelled to practice more defensively than clinically necessary, altering decisions on prescriptions, referrals, and documentation. This approach, known as defensive medicine, carries the inherent risk of overdiagnosis and can unnecessarily alarm patients.

Family doctors report increased instances of ordering further investigations or making referrals, deviating from a 'watch and wait' strategy. They also dedicate more time to extensive note-writing to ensure thorough documentation for their protection. This practice is exacerbated by patient attitudes and the challenging climate within the NHS, with one doctor describing general practice as a 'very high-risk environment.'

NHS Resolution is currently managing around 3,000 cases annually involving GPs. Medical Protection reports that its members are experiencing growing pressure from potential medicolegal issues. This situation arises as GPs grapple with an overload of new priorities, sometimes failing to identify older patients at risk of falls and medication errors, despite contractual obligations for clinical reviews.