THE number of complaints about GPs and dentists in Derbyshire has risen by more than a third in a year.

Latest figures show that 1,026 grievances were lodged in the year from April 2008, up from 746 the previous year and a increase of 37%.

But NHS bosses said the number of unhappy patients was a tiny proportion of those who used local health services, with Derby GP surgeries alone handling 1.5 million visits a year.

They said the figures reflected a more accessible complaints procedure.

A breakdown of the figures showed that about 80% were about GP practices, ranging from difficulties getting an appointment to the medical care given by doctors.

This type of complaint rose by 24%, from 666 to 829.

But John Grenville, a Derby GP and secretary of Derbyshire Local Medical Committee, said it could be seen as a good thing.

He said: "Everybody has been working to make the complaints procedure more accessible.

"Equally, there has been a certain amount of bad press about GPs, which means when patients are wondering whether or not to complain, they are more likely to do so.

"And that's a good thing because we can learn from complaints."

The figures also showed a 20% rise in complaints about dental care, from 80 to 96.

Andrew Dale, secretary of the Derby Local Dental Committee, said the increase was not a significant one.

He said: "Patients are more aware that they can complain and we're providing better information to them about that.

"I'd say it's actually quite a small rise."

The complaints were lodged with NHS Derby City, which oversees healthcare in the city, and its sister organisation for the rest of the county, Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust.

In Derby, complaints have gone up from 266 to 309, while in the rest of the county there has been a much bigger leap, from 480 to 717.

County trust head of complaints Rachel Housley said: "In recent years we have worked really hard to actively encourage GP practices and dentists to welcome and encourage compliments and complaints from patients so that we build an even better service for patients.

"This has resulted in a marked improvement in the way GPs and dentists report compliments and complaints, and has naturally increased awareness of the complaint procedure, which we are very pleased about."

There were 101 complaints categorised as "other" by NHS Derby City.

There was no figure in this category for the previous year and it was not clear what it included.

An NHS Derby City spokeswoman said all the data was being looked at to find out why there had been a rise.

In contrast, complaints about Derby hospitals, county mental health services and East Midlands Ambulance Service have fallen. Complaints about city hospitals fell from 372 to 324, there were 93 (down from 111) about the mental health trust and 128 (down from 139) about the ambulance service.