NHS optometry patients make fewer complaints

Patients are less likely to complain about optical practitioners than GPs, dentists and other primary care providers, according to new figures published by the Healthcare Commission.

Over 95,000 complaints are made against the NHS every year, with roughly 8,000 sent for review by the health watchdog if a patient is dissatisfied with the outcome.

A Healthcare Commission spokeswoman told Optician that in its first two years the commission had investigated 135 complaints against optical practitioners.

'The figures for optometry were much lower when compared to other types of primary care providers,' she commented.