Recurring concern
Unreliable NOMIS safety-critical information access and visibility
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Request correctionFirst reported 4 Oct 2016•Latest report 8 Apr 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures of NOMIS or directly integrated NOMIS/DPS controls that impair authorised staff access to, visibility of, interpretation of, or effective use of safety-critical prisoner information, including healthcare access, risk assessments, alerts, prior ACCT information and records needed for multidisciplinary oversight.
Not included
- Excludes generic prison or healthcare communication, training, staffing or record-keeping deficiencies where NOMIS is not the deficient system.
- Excludes failures of non-NOMIS systems, such as SystmOne, unless the report explicitly identifies their integration with or effect on NOMIS safety-critical information access.
- Excludes failures to act on complete and clearly presented NOMIS information when the NOMIS access and visibility controls operated reliably.
- Excludes the broader prison-healthcare interoperability concern when the assertion does not identify a NOMIS information-access, visibility or system-function deficiency.
- Reports
- 8
- Individual concerns
- 10
- Date range
- 2016–2026
- Stated actions
- 9
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 raised2
Unavailability of NOMIS/DPS alerts to Healthcare Staff
Insufficiently detailed and visible NOMIS/DPS risk-alert categorisation for operational prison 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
Review NOMIS/DPS alerts later in 2026 with safety, digital and policy experts to improve their consistency, clarity, visibility and usability.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service and Ministry of Justice and Nottingham Prison -
Action
Ensure findings from the NOMIS/DPS alerts review inform future enhancements addressing the identified concerns.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service and Ministry of Justice and Nottingham Prison
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 Ministry of Justice is responsible for NOMIS/DPS alerts, so it will lead the response to concerns about their categorisation and visibility.
Stated by Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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Position
NOMIS/DPS already provides more granularity than a single “violent” categorisation, although improvements in consistency, clarity and visibility are needed.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service and Ministry of Justice and Nottingham Prison
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Concerns raised2
Inconsistent understanding among prison and healthcare staff of healthcare access to NOMIS
Deactivation of healthcare staff NOMIS accounts due to lack of use
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.3
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Action
Improve healthcare staff understanding of how to use the NOMIS system.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care -
Action
Provide NOMIS training and support to the practice development nurse, new users and existing users requiring assistance.
Stated by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Reinstate and enable NOMIS access for healthcare staff, with access demonstrations recorded and monitored.
Stated by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure of NOMIS information accessibility to support risk assessments
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
Develop Digital Prison Services as the replacement case management system, including core functionality needed to cease using NOMIS.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service -
Action
Consider adding keyword searching to Digital Prison Services.
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.3
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Position
HMPPS is responsible for responding to concerns about national guidance and the accessibility of key information recorded on NOMIS.
Stated by NHS England
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Position
Operational concerns should be addressed by HMPPS Director General of Operations, rather than by the Minister.
Stated by Ministry of Justice -
Position
NOMIS and DPS currently lack key-date recording and keyword-search functions while DPS core development is prioritised; these enhancements are planned or under consideration.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
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Concerns raised1
Sparse NOMIS record keeping for SACU
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
Use a segregation weekly booklet consolidating recording sheets and documenting significant interactions for each prisoner.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
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Concerns raised1
Failure to make NOMIS training compulsory for clinicians working with prisoners
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
NOMIS failing to support necessary human intervention
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
NOMIS failing to alert staff to past ACCTs from the initial screen
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.
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
NOMIS provides current alerts and accessible historical ACCT information, with staff training on locating prisoner information.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
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Concerns raised1
Limitations of the NOMIS database in recording details of closed ACCT plans
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
Implement and embed a post-closure ACCT process requiring daily notification, plan circulation, interview updates, core-record filing and NOMS recording of ACCT openings and closures.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
Data last updated 7 September 2026