Recurring concern
Unreliable mental health referral pathways
- Reports that mention this concern
- 110
- Times this concern has been raised
- 136
- Stated actions linked to this concern
- 173
What this concern includes
Includes failures of mental health referral pathways, including identifying when referral is indicated, selecting the correct route, accepting direct referrals, making or re-making referrals, receiving and actioning referrals, and providing clear urgency or follow-up arrangements.
What is not included
- Excludes failures limited to assessment or treatment after a mental health referral has been successfully received and actioned.
- Excludes generic social-care, occupational-health or other specialist referrals unless the report explicitly concerns the mental health referral pathway.
- Excludes generic communication, training or documentation deficiencies that are not directly tied to making, receiving, processing or following up a mental health referral.
- Excludes urgent mental-health referral and assessment delays where the existing dedicated urgent mental-health pathway concern is the more specific supported boundary.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, 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.
Reports and published responses 110 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
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Concerns raised1
Failure to make direct written Trust-to-Trust referrals when transferring patients to another Trust
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Inconsistent referral of unwell A&E attenders to a psychiatrist
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Discharge-dependent referral to psychology leaving patients without ongoing support
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised2
Failure of the communication pathway for engaging mental health professionals to be clear and effective
Lack of staff knowledge of referral procedures for engaging mental health professionals
Linked response
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions 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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Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Review the mental health referral process and current staff training provision, identifying resulting actions in collaboration with AWP.
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Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Include community crisis-intervention access information in the patient leaflet, Mental Health Act training programme and Trust intranet.
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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Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The existing referral process for patients requiring mental health services is clear and considered adequate.
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Concerns raised2
Failure to make case-specific referrals through the single point of entry process
Failure to refer patients to psychiatric services for expert diagnosis, opinion, management and treatment planning
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Department of Health and Social Care
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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Department of Health and Social Care
Concerns about the GP’s decisions and actions should be addressed by Pennine Care NHS Trust and York House Surgery.
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Department of Health and Social Care
NHS England’s Performers Screening Group will determine whether specific action is needed regarding the GP’s clinical behaviour.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to seek advice from or consider further input from Mental Health Services
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised2
Failure to establish a clear referral process to the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit
Failure to require written and reasoned referral responses and their recording in patient notes
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Limitations on GPs making direct referrals for admission to a place of safety
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of shared understanding of team referral roles and interfaces
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions 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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Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Base a Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment team member within the Access and Assessment Team to support prompt joint working and care transitions.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure referral engagement without patient-initiated action
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Data last updated 7 September 2026