Decision Report 201709126

Summary

Mrs C complained to us that the practice had failed to provide her with appropriate care and treatment. She had reported to her GP that she was feeling down since the death of a relative and that she had self harmed. She was also concerned about a mouth infection. Mrs C said that the GP showed no interest, telling her to attend a dentist for the mouth problem and that she should wait for contact from the mental health services, who were already in contact with Mrs C. The GP told Mrs C that it was her responsibility to chase up the mental health services.

We took independent advice from a GP adviser. We found that it was appropriate for the GP to have referred Mrs C to her dentist as it would not be within a GP's remit to treat patients with dental problems. We also found that, when Mrs C attended the GP, there was no clinical indication for an immediate referral to the mental health services. The department within the mental health services which Mrs C was already attending operated a self-referral facility and there was no need for the GP to make a formal referral. We did not uphold the complaint.