First reported 26 Nov 2013•Latest report 26 May 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes recurring deficiencies in staffing capacity, experienced staff availability, senior clinical review, or ward management cover that specifically undermine safe weekend or out-of-hours care.
Not included
Excludes staffing or leadership deficiencies not materially connected to weekend or out-of-hours safe care.
Excludes failures of diagnostic, referral, documentation, audit or communication processes unless the report directly identifies inadequate weekend staffing or senior cover as the unsafe condition.
Excludes generic workforce shortages where no specific safe-care or senior-cover consequence is supported.
Reports
44
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
48
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2013–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
53
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.
Department of Health and Social Care10
NHS England4
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust3
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust3
Isle of Wight NHS Trust2
Royal Stoke University Hospital2
Adullam Homes Housing Association Limited1
Ashford and St Peter'S Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1
Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust1
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust1
Birmingham Prison1
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1
Bournemouth Churches Housing Association Limited1
Care Quality Commission1
Cumbria Health Limited1
NHS trust30
Ministerial department10
Healthcare site6
Executive non-departmental public body4
Private limited company3
Health professional body2
Multi-service care provider2
Registered provider of social housing2
Company limited by guarantee1
Health and social care service regulator1
Independent healthcare provider1
Integrated care board1
Medicines and medical devices regulator1
Prison or young offender institution1
Registered charity1
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.
Nottinghamshire
Concerns raised1
Insufficient overnight staffing for dementia unit residents’ needs
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 concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire
Concerns raised1
Lack of a consultant-led out-of-hours on-call rota for postoperative patients
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Surrey
Concerns raised1
Insufficient numbers of doctors at all levels of seniority available at weekends
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 concerns
Each 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
Action
Provide an additional doctor on the emergency medical take from 16:00 to 23:00 every day through adjusted junior-doctor rotas.
Stated by Ashford and St Peter'S Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 22 February 2016.
Action
Define minimum safe medical staffing levels for each clinical area and doctor grade through a Medical Director-led workstream.
Stated by Ashford and St Peter'S Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 22 February 2016.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Current contractual restrictions limit the ability to roster doctors for elective work during premium time, constraining implementation of identified safe staffing levels.
Stated by Ashford and St Peter'S Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Nottinghamshire
Concerns raised1
Insufficient night-time staffing for residents requiring assistance from two carers
This report raised 14 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each 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
Action
Clarify Horton Suite admission criteria to restrict admission to reasonably independent, low-falls-risk residents.
Stated by Your Health LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 December 2015.
Action
Provide a minimum of four staff across the building when a Horton Suite resident requires support from two carers.
Stated by Your Health LimitedStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 4 December 2015.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Four night staff were not considered routinely necessary because the two areas formed one linked building and staffing levels were based on residents’ dependency.
Stated by Your Health LimitedDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Failure to provide senior clinical review
This report raised 24 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each 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
Action
Increase permanent Acute Medical Unit staffing, including matron input, an additional senior nurse and a support assistant role.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 7 May 2015.
Nottinghamshire
Concerns raised2
Insufficient overnight ward staffing capacity for patient workloads
Unavailability of overnight additional staffing resources
Responses linked to these concerns
Each 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
Action
Provide assessed enhanced one-to-one care day and night using ward, bank or agency staffing when additional resources are required.
Stated by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 12 March 2015.
Action
Implement the approved nursing staffing model of five registered and two unregistered staff by day and three registered and one unregistered staff by night.
Stated by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 12 March 2015.
Action
Drive a nurse recruitment strategy to recruit the registered nurses required for medical wards to adopt the new staffing model.
Stated by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 12 March 2015.
Action
Monitor staffing levels and their impact on quality and safety through the Trust Board and Quality Committee.
Stated by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 12 March 2015.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Medical wards cannot adopt proposed staffing levels until approximately 100 additional registered nurses are recruited, anticipated to take a further 12 months.
Stated by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Insufficient junior doctor staffing to cover patient needs
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 concerns
Each 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
Action
Review general surgical junior doctor rotas, including surgical assessment unit presence and distribution across the working week.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 11 March 2015.
Action
Increase junior doctor presence on the surgical assessment unit and distribute doctors more evenly across the working week.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 11 March 2015.
Action
Consider broadening advanced nurse practitioner roles to undertake basic junior doctor duties.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 11 March 2015.
Staffordshire South
Concerns raised1
Lack of out-of-hours doctor cover at the hospital
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 concerns
Each 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
Position
Non-resident medical cover, trained staff, emergency equipment, basic life support and 999 access are considered sufficient for out-of-hours medical emergencies.
Stated by Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation TrustExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Paramedics are considered best placed to provide advanced emergency support and stabilisation before transfer to hospital.
Stated by Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation TrustRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised2
Insufficient night staffing to enable staff comfort breaks
Insufficient night staffing to provide healthcare and other prisoner needs
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each 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
Action
Liaise with Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust and G4S regarding night staffing levels and additional overnight support.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 September 2014.
Action
Continue pursuing Commissioner funding for an additional Ward 2 staff member.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 3 September 2014.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
Position
Existing night staffing and break-cover arrangements are considered sufficient, with additional staff available for high ACCT numbers or continuous supervision.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Funding approval for an extra Ward 2 staff member has not progressed because the Commissioner declined meetings; the matter will continue to be pursued.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Healthcare Commissioners are responsible for funding additional prison healthcare staff and are invited to address the staffing concern.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
The first concern falls within the Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust’s responsibility, and that Trust will respond separately.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Central and South East Kent
Concerns raised1
Failure to provide consultant on-call respiratory cover
This report raised 8 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Includes recurring deficiencies in staffing capacity, experienced staff availability, senior clinical review, or ward management cover that specifically undermine safe weekend or out-of-hours care.
