The number of complaints received by the Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board have risen seven fold in the past year, mostly sparked by anger over GP access.

In the 12 months to March this year, the ICB received 587 complaints from patients and carers, an increase the health authority says of more than seven times the amount received i the year before. The report put before the board said that 'most complaints' related to accesses and treatment in general practice.

This is despite a five per cent increase in the number of appointments offered by GP surgeries across Leicestershire and Rutland in the most recent financial year compared to the year before. An extra 425,000 appointments were provided, taking the annual number of appointments in the health area to more than 7.8 million.

At the board meeting this morning outgoing chief executive Caroline Trewithick was asked what had prompted the complaints, given the rising number of appointments.

She said: "I think it does reflect that even though we have got an increase in appointments across primary care, the level of dissatisfaction with access in the NHS is still being felt. 

"When we meet with our health watch colleagues on a regular basis it is access that is the constant comment that they are coming back with. So I think we have had this dilemma in terms of we are seeing a steady increase in terms of access and support, plus the digital approach in terms of getting rid of that 8am waiting list helps, but there are still issues in terms of accessing primary care."

Of the 587 complaints received five were escalated to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) but all were closed with no further action.