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
Unavailability of paper clinical notes to clinicians at appointments
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.
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 relevant prisoner medical information to drug workers
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.1
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Action
Give every Forward Trust member access to SystmOne to enter and access information.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
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
Medical information will not be shared without the patient's or representative's consent.
Stated by Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust
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Position
The Forward Trust's access to medical records is being addressed with NHS England, the service commissioner.
Stated by Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust
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Concerns raised1
Lack of remote access to medical records for on-call psychiatry clinicians
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
Provide relevant psychiatry trainees and specialist trainees with remote access to all required clinical record systems.
Stated by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
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Concerns raised1
Inadequate availability of nursing records
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 raised1
Failure to make vital mental health history readily findable and extractable from electronic records
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.4
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Action
Review and redesign the RiO electronic patient record to make vital clinical information easier to find.
Stated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Require staff to document risk information in the revised Risk Summary Section.
Stated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Implement collaborative My Safety & Crisis Plans with regular completion and update prompts, including after significant risk changes.
Stated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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Action
Develop and use a Community Care Plan page to make care plans and risk summaries readily identifiable.
Stated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Unavailability of the deceased's notes to ambulance staff
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.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of access to relevant records across healthcare providers
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.2
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Action
Lead the Global Digital Exemplar programme to improve electronic record sharing and disseminate digital information-sharing learning across NHS trusts.
Stated by NHS England -
Action
Support Local Health and Care Record Exemplars to establish safe, integrated access to permitted patient information across health and care organisations.
Stated by NHS England
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 secure RiO access arrangements are considered sufficient for sharing health records with other agencies.
Stated by Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Unavailability of previous medical records for clinical decision-making
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.
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
Establish a fully electronic case-notes system to improve access to medical records.
Stated by University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM
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
Established tracking, retrieval and out-of-hours arrangements are considered sufficient for accessing medical records during urgent admissions.
Stated by University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM
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Concerns raised1
Failure to make medical-record edits visible to treating clinicians
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 raised1
Failure to make documentation accessible to all relevant staff
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.2
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Action
Develop and display a laminated flowchart guiding s136 handover recording, documentation access and referral processes.
Stated by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Provide staff guidance on accessing notes in and out of hours, including support from colleagues and s136-suite staff when required.
Stated by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
Data last updated 7 September 2026