The Medical Council, the regulatory body for doctors in Ireland, says 396 complaints were made last year.

Nearly one-in-five (19%) of these related to communication issues.

Its annual report also shows that 22,996 doctors were on the Medical Register - that is up from 22,649 in 2017.

While 35% of those registered doctors are aged 35 or under.

The breakdown in the workforce is some 58% male doctors and 42% female.

The Medical Council says 58% of registered doctors received their primary medical qualification in Ireland.

Some 14% got their qualification from another EU member state or a nation in the European Economic Area (EEA), and 28% from another country.

Medical Council CEO Bill Prasifka said it is taking a number of actions to address the communication issues - such as ensuring communication becomes mandatory as part of a doctors continuous professional development.

"We also launched the Safe Start campaign, designed for doctors new to practicing medicine in Ireland", he said.

ILLUSTRATION - A doctor measuring blood pressure at a general practitioner's office in Minden, Germany, 29 July 2016. PHOTO: MARUIZIO GAMBARINI/dpa

"As noted from the complaints received, communications continues to be an area of concern, and the Safe Start initiative addresses communications as a key area for doctors to develop."

The Safe Start programme is aimed at making the transition to working life easier for new doctors, or those new or returning to practice in Ireland.

It also has resources for a range of professional development options to ease into the Irish medical workforce - including lessons on prescribing, consent and professional conduct and ethics.

Dr Rita Doyle, Medical Council president, added: "I am pleased to say that the new council has got off to a busy and productive start with a range of significant issues being addressed as the result of the hard work of the members.

"A key priority for me as president is the well-being of practising doctors who need to ensure that they look after their own physical and mental well-being, especially when doctors are working in a health service under significant strain.

"The work of the council's health committee is of significant importance to every registered doctor in Ireland, and we look forward to developing this facility in the coming year".