Recurring concern
Insufficient detail in referrals for safe risk assessment and prioritisation
- Reports that mention this concern
- 18
- Times this concern has been raised
- 22
- Stated actions linked to this concern
- 22
What this concern includes
Includes failures in safety-critical referrals or referral documentation where missing or inadequate information impairs risk assessment, understanding of case complexity or prioritisation by the receiving service.
What is not included
- Excludes deficiencies in final investigation reports, clinical records, care plans or other documents that are not referrals.
- Excludes failures to prioritise or respond to referrals when the referral information itself was sufficient.
- Excludes generic information-sharing or communication failures not tied to a referral or referral documentation.
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 18 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
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Concerns raised1
Failure to carry critical GP information into hospital assessment
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
- George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
- Old Mill Surgery
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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Old Mill Surgery
Implement and disseminate an EMIS and laminated referral protocol covering paediatric pathways, hospital selection, advance contact, documentation and clinically appropriate ambulance transfer.
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George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
Provide Emergency Department and Clinical Assessment Unit staff access to the Integrated Care Record System for reviewing GP records.
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Concerns raised1
Safeguarding referral forms failing to capture key GP-relevant information
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
- Derby City Council
- Derbyshire County Council
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
-
Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council
Use a single safeguarding adults referral form across Derby City and Derbyshire County, available online to public and professional referrers.
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Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council
Co-produce and implement a revised safeguarding adults referral form with partners, streamlining information requirements and reducing duplication and complexity.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to provide pertinent referral information to speech and language therapy
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
- Hill Care Group
- Northumbria Healthcare 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
-
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Implement revised electronic SALT referral form questions, mandatory detail fields, and mandatory Next of Kin or LPA information.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
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Hill Care Group
The measures described are considered sufficient to satisfy the concerns, so no further safety work is proposed.
-
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
The referral information did not indicate or corroborate dysphagia, swallowing difficulty, coughing or choking requiring face-to-face assessment.
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Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Existing dysphagia guidance and referral thresholds were considered sufficient to determine that face-to-face assessment was not required.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to provide adequate information about care needs in referrals to specialist services
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Northern Care Alliance 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
-
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
Review the Learning Disability and Autism Policy to add guidance on specialist referrals and Hospital Passport use.
-
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.
Linked response
- Sussex Police
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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Sussex Police
Joint training with SPFT is not considered workable because its cost and logistical requirements are disproportionate at this stage.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to provide sufficient detail in referrals for risk assessment and prioritisation
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
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
-
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
Deliver a Masterclass on timely vascular and District Nursing referrals, including required referral information and examples of good referrals.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
Specialist referrals are expected to contain relevant information and are returned with requirements when insufficient for prompt triage.
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Concerns raised2
Lack of a standard protocol for routine provision of referral photographs to assist triage
Inconsistent provision of information in referrals for triage
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Department of Health and Social Care
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
-
Department of Health and Social Care
Reinforce good oral cancer referral practice in future communications to dental professionals and commissioners.
-
Concerns raised1
Poor documentation in GP referrals to secondary care
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.
-
Concerns raised2
Referral routing failing to provide radiologists’ reports
Failure to clarify missing referral information before responding
This report raised 7 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
Failure to act on tissue viability referrals when referral information is incomplete
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King'S Lynn, 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
-
the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King'S Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust
Implement a mandatory electronic TVN referral form, replacing telephone and answering-machine referrals and requiring accurate patient information.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Data last updated 7 September 2026