Friday August 28th 2026
Caption: Glasgow City Chambers, where councillors agreed to begin negotiations over the sale of a council-owned site in Govanhill.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Catherine Hunter
More than 14,000 complaints have been made to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) since the beginning of 2023, new figures have revealed.
A freedom of information request (FOI) shared exclusively with the LDR service shows that there have been a total of 14,090 complaints received with 4230 in 2023, 4734 in 2024 and 4949 in 2025.
Between 2022 and 2025, 5762 complaints were fully upheld, 2012 were partially upheld while 3759 were not upheld.
The most common complaints received were to do with attitude and behaviour, oral communication, the date for an appointment and clinical treatment.
Councillor Paul Carey (BEM) who submitted the FOI said the increasing number of complaints should be a “serious concern” and the blame shouldn’t simply be placed on NHS staff.
Councillor Carey said: “The latest figures showing over 14,000 complaints from members of the public demonstrate that there is growing frustration with the health service and the experience patients are having.
“However, while these figures are concerning, we also need to look at the reasons behind the increase rather than simply placing the blame on NHS staff.
“For years, the NHS has been under tremendous pressure. Long waiting lists, difficulties getting GP appointments and lengthy waits for hospital treatment are understandably causing frustration for patients and their families. Unfortunately, that frustration can sometimes be directed towards the staff who are dealing with patients on the front line.
“Having spoken to a number of NHS staff, it is clear that many are feeling the pressure. They are working in an extremely challenging environment and are doing their best to provide care while managing increasing workloads and dealing with patients who are understandably frustrated after waiting weeks or months for appointments and treatment.
“We must remember that NHS staff are not responsible for long waiting lists, staff shortages or the wider pressures facing the health service. They are often simply the people patients see and speak to when they are frustrated.”
Councillor Carey also said that complaints must be taken seriously as patients have every right to raise concerns when they feel they have not received the standard of care they expect.
He continued: “It is clear that the NHS needs greater investment and urgent action to reduce waiting times and ease the pressure on staff. The Government has been too slow to respond to the growing pressures facing our health service.
“If we genuinely want to reduce complaints and improve the experience of patients, we need to make sure the NHS has the resources, staffing and support it needs.
“NHS staff deserve our support. They are doing their best in a system that has been under enormous pressure for far too long.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde says the number of complaints represents a small number of patients.
A spokesperson said: “As Scotland’s largest NHS Board, serving more than 1.3 million people, the number of complaints we receive reflects the scale of the services we provide and represents around 0.1% of patient interactions.
“As a learning organisation, we encourage patients and families to provide feedback and raise concerns. Every complaint is thoroughly reviewed and investigated in line with the Complaints Handling Procedure.
“Complaints cover a wide range of issues, and decisions on whether they are upheld, partially upheld or not upheld are based on the evidence gathered during the investigation.”
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