Recurring concern
Unreliable mental health referral pathways
First reported 4 Sep 2013•Latest report 25 Jun 2026
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.
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.
- Reports
- 110
- Individual concerns
- 136
- Date range
- 2013–2026
- Stated actions
- 173
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
Failure to verify completion of requested mental health referrals
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.3
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Action
Operate quarterly audited contract-management processes to review and monitor emergency and urgent referrals, reporting urgent issues through Datix for immediate action.
Stated by NHS England -
Action
Require mental health teams to log all referrals on SystmOne.
Stated by NHS England -
Action
Redesign and digitise the mental health referral process, requiring documentation of senior referral requests and assigned completion responsibility.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
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
Limited referral information is acceptable because early referral enables the mental health team to make urgent further enquiries.
Stated by The Treasury Solicitor
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Concerns raised1
Delays in referral to the Assessment and Treatment Service
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.
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
NHS Sussex ICB is the responsible commissioner for the relevant local services, with the Trust responsible for its action plan.
Stated by NHS England
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Concerns raised2
Delays in triaging and progressing referrals for mental health care
Inappropriate rejection of referrals despite evidence of psychosis
This report raised 5 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.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure police officers understand mental health issues and referral information requirements
This report raised 5 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.
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
Joint training with SPFT is not considered workable because its cost and logistical requirements are disproportionate at this stage.
Stated by Sussex Police
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Concerns raised2
Exclusion of referrals from talking therapies based on a stability policy
Lack of shared definitions of stability across the talking therapies pathway
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.5
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Action
Remove recent statutory mental-health contact and recent failed-suicide-attempt criteria from NHS Talking Therapies referral screening.
Stated by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Screen referrals for engagement and safety, assess current stability, and monitor referral decisions through practitioner rationales and managerial checks.
Stated by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Finalize, discuss and share the NHS Talking Therapies operating procedure with relevant teams.
Stated by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
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Action
Provide NHS Talking Therapies training to Living Well, Home Treatment Team and emergency liaison colleagues on the revised service procedure.
Stated by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Hold Living Well staff reflection and learning sessions on language, stability terminology and person-centred care.
Stated by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to appropriately assess declining mental health information and provide timely mental health referrals
This report raised 5 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
Require senior oversight of Single Point of Access triage and recording of referrer collateral information.
Stated by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Use revised SBAR documentation to include carer and family views in decision-making.
Stated by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Test new Single Point of Access procedures and apply quality-control review to assess consistent implementation and identify service improvements.
Stated by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
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Action
Deliver training across i-access services on recognising psychosis and making timely mental-health referrals.
Stated by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Inability of Adult Social Care to directly refer to AMHT
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.
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 a joint protocol for working between the two Trusts on Mental Health Act assessment referrals
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.2
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Action
Develop a joint EPUT–MSE working protocol defining responsibilities for patients awaiting Mental Health Act assessment.
Stated by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Develop a joint protocol with EPUT covering assessment sequencing, referral expectations, and staff roles and responsibilities.
Stated by Mid and South Essex 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
Mental Health Liaison Team provision is commissioned by the ICB under contract with EPUT, requiring those bodies' involvement in service arrangements.
Stated by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to distinguish GP requests for advice from referrals
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.
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
No further difficulties need to be overcome in the referral pathway into secondary mental health services.
Stated by Cornwall Council
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Position
The Integrated Care Board is expected to respond to concerns about the specific care provided.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
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Concerns raised1
Failure to refer young people awaiting gender services for specialist psychiatric support from CAMHS
This report raised 7 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.3
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Action
Send referral information for consenting patients to their local children and young people’s mental-health providers.
Stated by NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGEM CSU -
Action
Decide whether to require all Children and Young People’s Gender Service referrals to come through NHS secondary care after public consultation.
Stated by NHS England -
Action
Decide whether to strengthen pre-referral relationships between gender services and local secondary-care services after public consultation.
Stated by NHS England
Data last updated 7 September 2026