Recurring concern
Unreliable access to relevant clinical records for safe care
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Request correctionFirst reported 12 Sep 2013•Latest report 22 Jun 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures to retrieve, locate, present or provide access to relevant existing records for assessment, treatment and care decisions.
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.
- Reports
- 122
- Individual concerns
- 129
- Date range
- 2013–2026
- Stated actions
- 192
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 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.
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 vital information in electronic notes is accessible to staff making care decisions
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
Deliver and maintain eCARE training, materials and post-implementation support for clinical and temporary staff.
Stated by Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Reinforce daily medication-chart and observation review during routine clinical rounding through staff training, including additional Emergency Department and Trauma and Orthopaedics training.
Stated by Milton Keynes University Hospital 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
Important information was recorded in the electronic record; the issue was inconsistent staff review rather than inability to access it.
Stated by Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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Position
Proposed actions and the existing eCARE governance structure appropriately mitigate the risk of recurrence.
Stated by Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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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.
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
Request all PARIS electronic records when obtaining mental health notes for Coroner disclosure.
Stated by Swansea Bay University Local Health Board -
Action
Identify all possible mental health patient-record locations and develop a checklist for auditing record completeness before disclosure to the Coroner.
Stated by Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
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 Health Board disputes that the duty assessment was unavailable to AHTT assessors before the gateway assessment.
Stated by Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
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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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
Develop a revised Electronic Document Management System business case for Executive Director consideration.
Stated by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals 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
Cost pressures have prevented implementation of the Electronic Document Management System, although a revised business case is being developed.
Stated by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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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.
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 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.
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
Inform prison psychology staff how to request access to patients’ NHS clinical records.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Audit psychology staff access, records viewed, and clinical entries documented in the system.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Require the funded psychologist to document every patient interaction in the patient’s clinical record.
Stated by Greater Manchester 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
Medical confidentiality requirements prevent combining mental health and psychology records, so information sharing must use existing multidisciplinary forums.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
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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.
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
Move to electronic prescribing to eliminate paper drug charts and reduce the risk of charts being lost.
Stated by Barts Health NHS Trust
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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.
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
Ensure NHS online consultations provide safe, secure access to an appropriate clinician connected with the patient’s GP practice.
Stated by NHS England
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
The death appears unrelated to NHS services because the consultation, prescription and medication were obtained outside the NHS.
Stated by NHS England
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Position
CQC and MHRA are better placed to explain and address online prescribing safety work.
Stated by NHS England
Data last updated 7 September 2026