Recurring concern
Unreliable access to relevant clinical records for safe care
- Reports that mention this concern
- 122
- Times this concern has been raised
- 129
- Stated actions linked to this concern
- 192
What this concern includes
Includes failures to retrieve, locate, present or provide access to relevant existing records for assessment, treatment and care decisions.
What is not included
- Excludes absent or inaccurate information that was never reliably recorded.
- Excludes failures to transfer otherwise available information to another service or recipient.
- Excludes failure to review records that were already available unless access or retrieval was also deficient.
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 122 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
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Concerns raised1
Failure of electronic care records to provide remote access to shared clinical information
This report raised 10 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 ensure vital information in electronic notes is accessible to staff making care decisions
Linked response
- Milton Keynes University Hospital 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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Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Deliver and maintain eCARE training, materials and post-implementation support for clinical and temporary staff.
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Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Reinforce daily medication-chart and observation review during routine clinical rounding through staff training, including additional Emergency Department and Trauma and Orthopaedics training.
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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Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Important information was recorded in the electronic record; the issue was inconsistent staff review rather than inability to access it.
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Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Proposed actions and the existing eCARE governance structure appropriately mitigate the risk of recurrence.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to make patients’ treatment wishes and concerns available for gateway assessment
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Swansea Bay University Local Health 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.2
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Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
Request all PARIS electronic records when obtaining mental health notes for Coroner disclosure.
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Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
Identify all possible mental health patient-record locations and develop a checklist for auditing record completeness before disclosure to the Coroner.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
The Health Board disputes that the duty assessment was unavailable to AHTT assessors before the gateway assessment.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to make the needs passport accessible to all staff caring for the patient
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.
-
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of clinician access to obstetric and diabetic records
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 raised1
Loss or inaccessibility of records material to ongoing patient care
This report raised 9 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Blackpool Teaching 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.1
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Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Develop a revised Electronic Document Management System business case for Executive Director consideration.
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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Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Cost pressures have prevented implementation of the Electronic Document Management System, although a revised business case is being developed.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to retain and make clinical records available
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.
-
Concerns raised2
Failure to record and make psychology records accessible to psychologists
Failure to provide shared access to mental-health and psychology records
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
- HM Prison and Probation Service
Stated actions 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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Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Inform prison psychology staff how to request access to patients’ NHS clinical records.
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Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Audit psychology staff access, records viewed, and clinical entries documented in the system.
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Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Require the funded psychologist to document every patient interaction in the patient’s clinical record.
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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HM Prison and Probation Service
Medical confidentiality requirements prevent combining mental health and psychology records, so information sharing must use existing multidisciplinary forums.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to retain and make available drug charts
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Barts Health NHS 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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Barts Health NHS Trust
Move to electronic prescribing to eliminate paper drug charts and reduce the risk of charts being lost.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to access the patient’s medical records before prescribing potentially dangerous and addictive drugs
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- NHS England
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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NHS England
Ensure NHS online consultations provide safe, secure access to an appropriate clinician connected with the patient’s GP practice.
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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NHS England
The death appears unrelated to NHS services because the consultation, prescription and medication were obtained outside the NHS.
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NHS England
CQC and MHRA are better placed to explain and address online prescribing safety work.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Data last updated 7 September 2026