Claims insights: regulatory complaints
Learn about the sources and outcomes of regulatory complaints for medical practitioners and practices. The good news is that the majority of complaints result in no further action.
Thursday, 9 May 2024
Overview | Practice points |
|
|
The incidence data was based on complaints indemnified by Avant from FY2019–23. The source of complaints analysis was based on complaints closed from FY2021–23 while the outcome analysis was based on complaints closed from FY2019–23.
Incidence of complaints made to regulatory bodies against Avant practitioners or practices each year (5-year average)
| Practitioners | Practices |
1 in 20 | 1 in 24 |
Who submitted the complaint?
| Practitioners | Practices |
|
|
* 'Other' may include employer, police, healthcare facilities, other members of the public and anonymous complaints.
What was the outcome?
This outcome summary shows the most severe outcome for each claim. It includes matters managed by regulatory bodies, health complaints entities and other complaints bodies. It is not directly comparable with the Ahpra summary below due to differences in outcomes for various complaints processes.
No further action = discontinued Low severity = counselled/cautioned/conciliation/resolution Medium/high severity = conditions imposed or changes to registration
Practitioners
Practices
Ahpra data
Ahpra and the National Boards closed 6,087 notifications against medical practitioners in FY 2023. Most of the notifications resulted in no further regulatory action, which is consistent with the Avant data.
- 60.8% no further regulatory action
- 27.9% referred to another body or retained by a health complaints entity
- 6.6% conditions imposed on registration or an undertaking accepted
- 3.9% cautioned or reprimanded
- 0.7% registration suspended or cancelled or disqualified from applying
- 0.1% fined
Source: Ahpra & National Boards Annual report 2022/23
Our data analysis
Claims insights are based on a retrospective review of routinely collected and coded data involving regulatory complaints only against medical practitioner members and practice policy holders from across Australia. Complaints against early career doctors are excluded in the analysis.
Resource
Receiving a complaint from Ahpra – 5 minute video
Medico-legal advice
If you receive a claim or complaint, contact us (avant.org.au/MLAS) on 1800 128 268 for expert medico-legal advice on how to respond – available 24/7 in emergencies.
For any queries on this analysis, please contact us at research@avant.org.au
Disclaimers
IMPORTANT: Avant routinely codes information collected in the course of assisting member doctors in medico-legal matters into a standardised, deidentified dataset. This retrospective analysis was conducted using this dataset. The findings represent the experience of these doctors in the period of time specified, which may not reflect the experience of all doctors in Australia. This publication is not comprehensive and does not constitute legal or medical advice. You should seek legal or other professional advice before relying on any content, and practise proper clinical decision-making with regard to the individual circumstances. Persons implementing any recommendations contained in this publication must exercise their own independent skill or judgement or seek appropriate professional advice relevant to their own particular practice. Compliance with any recommendations will not in any way guarantee discharge of the duty of care owed to patients and others coming into contact with the health professional or practice. Avant is not responsible to you or anyone else for any loss suffered in connection with the use of this information. Information is only current at the date initially published.
Other resources
More ways we can help you
Our collection on this topic
Explore more insights and resources about this topic, in different formats, from Avant and external organisations.
Our CPD courses for Avant members
Tick off some CPD hours and learn more with our in-depth eLearning courses, free for Avant members. Our courses include education activities, reviewing performance and measuring outcomes.