Recurring concern
Unreliable psychiatric appointment provision and coordination
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Request correctionFirst reported 16 Jan 2015•Latest report 18 Nov 2025
What this concern includes
Includes failures in the psychiatric appointment process involving arranging, providing, scheduling, communicating or coordinating appointments, where the failure can result in missed, delayed or unknown psychiatric care.
Not included
- Excludes failures concerning non-psychiatric appointments, investigations or general care coordination.
- Excludes clinical shortcomings during an appointment once the appointment has occurred.
- Excludes generic staffing, workload or communication deficiencies unless they are directly tied to provision or coordination of a psychiatric appointment.
- Excludes specialist appointments governed by a distinct named process, such as SOAD appointments for ECT, unless the evidence supports their inclusion in the same psychiatric appointment concern.
- Reports
- 9
- Individual concerns
- 12
- Date range
- 2015–2025
- Stated actions
- 18
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of policy or procedure governing the timing and conduct of appointments
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Issue and operationalize a Practice Note requiring SAF waiting-list contact, key-worker appointment dates, transition timescales, and clarification that SAF is not prerequisite to care.
Stated by North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust -
Action
Revise the Trust Care Management Policy to incorporate the new processes, guidance, and audit assurance arrangements.
Stated by North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to provide an appropriate urgent psychiatric appointment
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Route crisis-team communications and psychiatrist review requests to multidisciplinary team mailboxes.
Stated by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Provide three senior leads to support the crisis team.
Stated by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to provide requested psychiatric appointments
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Have the administration team book consultant psychiatrist appointments for assessed referrals, using urgent slots when risk-based assessment indicates greater urgency.
Stated by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised2
Failure to provide planned Care Coordinator or Community Psychiatric Nurse visits
Failure to assign Duty officer responsibility for reviewing planned appointments and arranging Community Psychiatric Nurse attendance
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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Action
Implement a Care Coordinator handover sheet for planned absences, identifying required follow-up and accountable staff.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Establish manager-led review and coverage arrangements for unplanned, short-term and long-term Care Coordinator absences, including prioritised visits, duty-officer follow-up and caseload reallocation.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Update the Older Adult Community Mental Health Team Standard Operating Procedure to reflect the absence-cover arrangements.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
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Action
Audit the absence-cover process after three months to verify that it is embedded and being followed.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Team Managers or Senior Practitioners, rather than duty officers, are responsible for reviewing appointments and determining required follow-up during Care Coordinator absences.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Delays in providing psychiatrist appointments after assessment referrals
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Approach NHS England and discuss seeking additional psychology and psychiatry resource for HMP Leeds.
Stated by Practice Plus Group Health And Rehabilitation Services Limited -
Action
Submit a business case to Commissioners for increased psychology and psychiatry provision at HMP Leeds.
Stated by Practice Plus Group Health And Rehabilitation Services Limited
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
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Position
Existing stepped-care provision and multidisciplinary referral arrangements are considered sufficient to meet patients’ psychiatric needs at current levels.
Stated by Practice Plus Group Health And Rehabilitation Services Limited
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Position
Even if additional funding is approved, recruitment difficulties may prevent immediate increases in psychiatric provision.
Stated by Practice Plus Group Health And Rehabilitation Services Limited
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Concerns raised2
Unclear responsibility for re-booking appointments after non-attendance
Failure to ensure re-booking of appointments after non-attendance for newly referred patients
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Assign the Referral Co-ordinator responsibility for booking further initial assessment appointments after non-attendance.
Stated by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Audit compliance with the strengthened referral follow-up arrangements over the forthcoming months.
Stated by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Lack of agreed target timescales for routine psychiatric appointments
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Set a 12-week target for offering routine appointments following review with the Lead Consultant Psychiatrist.
Stated by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised2
Delays in offering psychiatric follow-up appointments
Insufficient resourcing of the psychiatric unit
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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Action
Increase outpatient appointment capacity through a programme maximizing use of clinical appointment slots.
Stated by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust -
Action
Develop a partial-booking system for outpatient appointments.
Stated by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust -
Action
Monitor open patient contacts weekly and refer them to medical staff for clinical decisions.
Stated by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
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Action
Fill vacancies and improve staffing capacity to reduce assessment waiting times.
Stated by Leicester City Council
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
The concern about psychiatric follow-up falls to Leicestershire Partnership Trust, which will respond separately.
Stated by Leicester City Council
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Concerns raised1
Failure to communicate scheduled psychiatric appointments across the care team
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Data last updated 7 September 2026