Recurring concern
Failure to reliably follow up identified mental-health safety concerns
First reported 5 May 2013•Latest report 25 Jun 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures in processes for recording, contacting, escalating, tracking and following up identified mental-health safety concerns, including suicide risk, when initial contact attempts fail or a promised clinical response does not occur.
Not included
- Excludes routine psychiatric follow-up or appointment-access failures where no identified mental-health safety concern requires a specific follow-up response.
- Excludes failures limited to mental-health risk assessment, treatment or observation when the follow-up and escalation process is not deficient.
- Excludes generic communication or documentation deficiencies unless they directly leave an identified mental-health safety concern without follow-up or protective action.
- Excludes family-contact failures unrelated to an identified mental-health safety concern.
- Reports
- 17
- Individual concerns
- 17
- Date range
- 2013–2026
- Stated actions
- 38
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 initiate follow-up after presentation with deteriorating mental health
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
Review records, clinical actions, and processes for supporting, referring, and liaising about high-risk patients with mental health teams.
Stated by The Foxhayes Surgery
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Concerns raised1
Failure to provide urgent follow-up after predicted medication non-compliance deterioration
This report raised 18 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
Trigger urgent treatment-plan review jointly by the Care Coordinator and prescriber when patients miss appointments while prescribed time-limited medication.
Stated by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Escalate medication non-adherence to the responsible Consultant Psychiatrist, discuss it in MDT and zoning meetings, assess risk, and document an agreed action plan.
Stated by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Use the MaST tool across community teams to monitor caseloads and identify patients needing additional support or follow-up.
Stated by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to escalate concerns and arrange follow-up after incomplete mental health assessment
This report raised 21 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
Require escalation to emergency-department clinicians, continued emergency-department medical care and liaison-team availability for reassessment when patients cannot engage or remain medically unfit.
Stated by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Require immediate escalation of concerns to the treating medic or nurse in charge through the Operational Policy.
Stated by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Implement the Emergency Department adult-discharge SOP defining discharge responsibilities, documentation requirements, safety-netting, and safeguards for higher-risk patients.
Stated by The Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to provide proactive contact and support to men at elevated suicide risk
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
Complete research reviewing five years of post-custody suicide data to identify commonalities and inform prevention.
Stated by National Police Chiefs’ Council -
Action
Introduce an evidence-led post-release risk assessment process with mandatory referrals to partner support agencies for identified high-risk individuals.
Stated by National Police Chiefs’ Council
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
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Position
The Home Office has no authority to intervene in operational policing matters or comment on police officers’ operational decisions.
Stated by Home Office
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Position
Operational decisions about following custody guidance are the responsibility of individual police forces and their chief officers.
Stated by Home Office -
Position
Current police guidance readily available to forces clearly sets out actions to support detainees and prevent custody and post-custody suicides.
Stated by Home Office -
Position
Existing policing guidance, custody risk assessment and partnership arrangements are considered sufficient to address suicide and post-release support risks.
Stated by College of Policing
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Concerns raised1
Inadequate arrangements to protect people under mental health care after indications of an immediate risk of harm
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 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
Develop a social work checklist guiding risk assessment, escalation, communication, recording and crisis planning for mental health and duty cases.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Wrexham County Borough Council Social Services department -
Action
Implement an additional 4:30pm safety huddle to review heightened risks, minute actions, coordinate out-of-hours mitigation and escalate unresolved risks.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Wrexham County Borough Council Social Services department -
Action
Disseminate the checklist and safety-huddle procedures to Community Mental Health Team social work staff.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Wrexham County Borough Council Social Services department
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Action
Develop Local Authority mental health, escalation, risk-management, pathway, and reporting and recording policies and procedures, including crisis planning.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Wrexham County Borough Council Social Services department
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Concerns raised1
Failure to act on an inpatient admission plan following identification of acute suicide risk
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 adequately intervene after a suicide attempt and further suicide preparations
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.4
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Action
Maintain and publish a national GP curriculum covering assessment and management of mental health problems, including suicide risk and safety planning.
Stated by Royal College of General Practitioners -
Action
Provide a two-module suicide-prevention course with case-based strategies and resources for primary-care intervention.
Stated by Royal College of General Practitioners -
Action
Publish guidance for GPs on assessing, managing and referring patients with suicidal ideation, including a toolkit and quick-reference leaflet.
Stated by Royal College of General Practitioners
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Action
Refer the coroner’s report to the Professional Standards Department to consider whether member guidance on suicidal clients and suicide-risk management should be strengthened.
Stated by British Association For Counselling And Psychotherapy
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
Existing RCGP mental-health education, guidance and service-improvement work is considered an adequate response to suicide-prevention concerns.
Stated by Royal College of General Practitioners
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Concerns raised1
Failure to attempt timely assessment after a high-risk patient re-establishes contact
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 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
Increase Home Treatment Team workforce capacity through additional managers, practitioners, medical staff, psychologists and administrative staff.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Review the Home Treatment Team operating protocol to strengthen nurse-led triage, assessment screening and escalation to consultant psychiatrists.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull 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.2
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Position
Care and treatment concerns are largely for provider organisations to resolve.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board
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Position
Local NHS agencies are expected to address the report’s local concerns.
Stated by NHS England
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Concerns raised1
Failure to arrange timely follow-up review after starting antidepressants for people at increased suicide risk or younger than 30 years
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
Add an SSRI and suicidality prompt to the first mental health assessment template.
Stated by University of Bristol Students’ Health Service -
Action
Schedule routine reviews one week after starting an SSRI, with booked or known follow-up appointments and appropriate follow-up after cancellations or non-attendance.
Stated by University of Bristol Students’ Health Service -
Action
Recruit a permanent mental health nurse, define a role reviewing higher-risk or SSRI-starting patients at seven days, and plan use of the new resource with local partners.
Stated by University of Bristol Students’ Health Service
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Action
Distribute a Trust-wide alert requiring adherence to NICE antidepressant-prescribing guidance, documented seven-day review responsibility, and auditable team responses.
Stated by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust -
Action
Require medical leads to discuss the prescribing alert with all line reports to reinforce effective communication.
Stated by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS 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
Changing QOF depression review criteria requires national-level action, with feedback routed through the local CCG.
Stated by University of Bristol Students’ Health Service
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Concerns raised1
Failure to arrange follow-up after mental health concerns are raised
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
Implement system changes, including an automated phone system, to record and audit internal and external calls and support message forwarding.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Increase out-of-hours capacity by assigning a Band 7 senior clinician each evening to manage, triage and assess Home Treatment Team calls.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Reorganise administrative call handling and signed handover to qualified staff for action.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
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Action
Recruit additional Home Treatment service staff, proceeding ahead of funding confirmation after submitting a business case to Commissioners.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Establish an out-of-hours switchboard safeguard requiring advice from a 24/7 bed-management clinician when clinical staff cannot respond.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull 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
The Trust disputes that its computer systems were down on 1 June 2018; it attributes the missed message to staff error.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Data last updated 7 September 2026