Figures due to be released by the council next month reveal that there were 305 complaints against doctors in 2005, compared to 270 in 2004.

In total, 42 fitness-to-practice inquiries were held to investigate complaints against doctors, 19 of which stemmed from complaints made last year. Of these, 24 reached a conclusion by the end of 2005, resulting in six doctors being struck off the medical register for professional misconduct.

The reason for these 'erasures' from the register included one case of drug abuse involving a junior hospital doctor and one case of "fraud and moral turpitude" involving a GP.

A consultant plastic surgeon and a consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist were also struck off the register for "clinical offences and falling below standards", as were two other doctors for the same reasons.

Of the 18 remaining completed inquiries, two of the proceedings were struck out, one of which involved a complaint of sexual assault against a GP.

Six doctors were found guilty of the complaints made against them but were not struck off the register as a result. Among these was a sole practitioner who was found guilty of "inappropriate prescribing" and a consultant psychiatrist who was found guilty of "breaching confidence and clinical offences". The latter was given "advice and admonishment" by the Fitness To Practice Committee.

Five doctors were found not guilty of the complaints lodged against them, while another five were found officially not guilty by the committee but were censured or had other sanctions imposed on them.

According to William Kennedy, legal adviser to the medical council, the rise in complaints suggested that more people are aware of the council's role.

"We are also more accessible now through our website.

It allows people to access a lot of information about us, " he said.

The new figures coincide with the long-awaited publication of the draft heads of a new medical practitioners' bill, which has been strongly opposed by the medical profession. The bill proposes that the Fitness To Practice Committee should be made up of a majority of lay people.

"There will be transparent, democratic accountability. The medical profession will not police itself by itself, " said health minister Mary Harney.