Michael Buckley is concerned some GPs do not accept his findings

In the past year four out of six GPs who were told to apologise to patients they had removed from their lists refused to do so.

Mr Buckley said: "We have had a number of cases where the GP concerned has said 'no I don't care, I don't agree, and I don't accept your findings so I am not going to apologise'.

"In such circumstances, the complainant, having seen his or her complaint upheld after thorough consideration by my office, is left without remedy.

"In effect, the practitioner concerned is claiming the right to be judge and jury in his or her own cause. I cannot see that is reasonable; and it seems to me no more than fair that the practitioner should be named, so that he or she can be asked to justify their action in public."

Mr Buckley said the same rules would be applied to a doctor who had removed a patient from their practice list for no other reason than that the patient had complained.

In such cases doctors were flagrantly flouting guidance put out by the General Medical Council, he said, which makes it a professional responsibility of doctors to deal with complaints constructively and honestly, and to cooperate with any relevant complaints procedure.

GPs defend rights

Dr John Chisholm defended GPs right to remove patients

Dr John Chisholm, chairman of the BMA's GP Committee, said the right of GPs to remove patients from their list must be defended, but such action should only be taken in exceptional circumstances where there had been an irretrievable breakdown of the doctor-patient relationship.

It should also be normal practice to tell a patient why they had been removed from the list

Dr Chisholm said: "We regret the need for the Ombudsman to have to name practitioners, as this is not the best way to encourage professionals to comply with his wishes, but we recognise that he has the power and authority to do this.

"Doctors should not remove patients from their list for no other reason than that the patient has complained."