You Are Not A Frog

Complaints and How to Survive Them E5: What Should I Do When I Think a Complaint is Unfair? and Other Questions with Drs Sarah Coope, George Wright, Samantha White, and Andrew Tressider


Listen Later

Drs Sarah Coope, George Wright, Samanta White, and Andrew Tressider join us in this episode to discuss how you can adjust your perspective about complaints and how to deal with them. We also tackle unfair or malicious complaints and how you can cope with them. 

Episode Highlights

[07:07] How to Respond When Someone Wishes to Make a Complaint

  • Thank patients for the feedback.
  • Some patients may only be looking for acknowledgment.

[12:59] Should You Display Your Complaints Policy?

  • Displaying your complaints policies helps patients.

[15:50] How to Handle Complaints When They’re Unfair

  • Build rapport. The conversation follows after.
  • Let facts speak for themselves. Avoid being defensive.

[19:51] Learning to Not be Defensive

  • Hear the whole story.
  • Acknowledge, Apologise, Ask, Answer, and Act.

[26:59] Calming Down During Intense Situations

  • Plant your feet.
  • Get your spine comfortable

[29:49] How to Handle Malicious Complaints

  • Share your burden. 
  • Ask what the client wants to accomplish. 

[35:36] The Five Agreements from Toltec Wisdom

  • Be impeccable with your words.
  • Take nothing personally.
  • Make no assumptions.
  • Always do your best.
  • Be skeptical, but listen. 

[37:40] How to Depersonalise Problems

  • Have someone support you.
  • Identify the source of your complaint.

[44:49] Emotional Occupational Hazards in Healthcare

  • Time plays a significant role. 
  • Be kind to yourself.

[50:18] How to Handle Complaints during the Pandemic

  • Be straightforward.
  • Discuss handling pandemic-related complaints.

[59:47] Supervising Trainees Dealing with Their First Complaints

  • Create a safe space for trainees.
  • Be in the right time and space when talking to complainants. 

Enjoyed This Podcast?

Write a review and share this with your friends.

Sign up for a FREE workbook.

Join the Shapes Collective Facebook group.

Find out more about our training here.

Email Rachel or reach her on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Podcast Links

  • Sign up for our FREE live webinar where we teach doctors some practical strategies to help with challenging times. 
  • Check out the Permission to Thrive CPD membership for doctors!
  • E78: Preparing to Fail Well
  • E80: What to Do When You Make a Mistake
  • E82: Surviving the Process
  • E84: Creating a Workplace Where It’s OK to Fail
  • Dr Coope: website | Twitter
  • Dr Wright: website | Twitter
  • Dr White: email
  • Dr Tressider: website | email

Mentioned in this episode:

The Shapes Academy

Work happier, set boundaries around your work, get your time back and support your team - without burning out yourself.

Get your FREE burnout self-assessment guide

Get honest with yourself — discover what’s really going on, and what to do next.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

You Are Not A FrogBy Dr Rachel Morris

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

2 ratings


More shows like You Are Not A Frog

View all
Woman's Hour by BBC Radio 4

Woman's Hour

391 Listeners

Inside Health by BBC Radio 4

Inside Health

85 Listeners

BMJ Best Practice Podcast by BMJ Group

BMJ Best Practice Podcast

24 Listeners

The Doctor's Kitchen Podcast by Dr Rupy Aujla

The Doctor's Kitchen Podcast

622 Listeners

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee by Dr Rangan Chatterjee: GP & Author

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

4,035 Listeners

Happy Place by Fearne Cotton

Happy Place

1,167 Listeners

Primary Care Knowledge Boost by Primary Care Knowledge Boost

Primary Care Knowledge Boost

47 Listeners

GPnotebook Podcast by GPnotebook

GPnotebook Podcast

17 Listeners

NB Hot Topics Podcast by NB Medical Education

NB Hot Topics Podcast

6 Listeners

The Mid•Point with Gabby Logan by Spiritland Creative

The Mid•Point with Gabby Logan

328 Listeners

Medics Money podcast by Medics Money

Medics Money podcast

4 Listeners

Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley by BBC Radio 4

Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley

238 Listeners

ZOE Science & Nutrition by ZOE

ZOE Science & Nutrition

2,010 Listeners

Red Whale Primary Care Pod by Red Whale

Red Whale Primary Care Pod

5 Listeners

Begin Again with Davina McCall by Begin Again

Begin Again with Davina McCall

534 Listeners