First reported 30 Aug 2013•Latest report 8 May 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes availability, stock, checking, maintenance or servicing failures that leave essential clinical equipment or supplies unavailable or unfit for use.
Not included
Excludes non-clinical equipment and vehicle, environmental, or recreational-equipment checks.
Excludes failures concerning the operation or use of equipment during care when no equipment-readiness or serviceability check is implicated.
Excludes generic staffing, training, documentation, audit, or supervision deficiencies unless they are specifically tied to the reliability of daily clinical-equipment serviceability checks.
Excludes checks of patient condition, care processes, messages, or other non-equipment objects.
Reports
41
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
46
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2013–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
43
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.
NHS England6
Department of Health and Social Care4
Care Quality Commission3
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust2
General Pharmaceutical Council2
Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership2
Royal College of Physicians2
Association Of Anaesthetists (Great Britain & Ireland)1
Avenue House Nursing and Care Home1
Ayuntamiento de La Oliva1
Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust1
Barts Health NHS Trust1
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1
Brunswick Ward at Lindridge1
Care UK1
NHS trust22
Healthcare site10
Executive non-departmental public body7
Ministerial department4
Private limited company4
Health and care professional regulator3
Health and social care service regulator3
Health professional body3
Integrated care board3
Executive agency2
Health-system partnership2
Independent healthcare provider2
Nursing home2
Registered charity2
Residential care home2
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.
Nottinghamshire
Concerns raised2
Failure to robustly check difficult-airway trolley equipment daily and replace broken or misplaced key equipment
Unavailability of equipment and skills to carry out difficult-airway 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 concerns
Each 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
Action
Maintain airway trolleys with required equipment, NAP4 algorithms, and intubation checklists, supported by daily checks, restocking, and documented compliance.
Stated by UHDBStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 April 2023.
Action
Repeat the airway study day with theory and simulation training on airway management, trolley orientation, intubation checklists, and dislodged tracheostomy management.
Stated by UHDBStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 April 2023.
Action
Add airway management to the junior doctor induction programme.
Stated by UHDBStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 27 April 2023.
Action
Provide practical airway training for Band 6 and 7 nursing teams and display airway education materials within the unit.
Stated by UHDBStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 April 2023.
Action
Purchase a new intubating bronchoscope and order an additional machine to provide two bronchoscope options in intensive care.
Stated by UHDBStatus at responseThe respondent said that this action was partly complete when they made their response on 27 April 2023.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of suction machines in care homes for staff management of choking
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 concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Norfolk
Concerns raised1
Delayed availability of emergency life-saving equipment at the patient’s room
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 concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
North East Kent
Concerns raised1
Failure to include room alarm audibility in handover equipment checks
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 concerns
Each 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
Action
Default ICU monitor alarm volumes to levels 8–10 and restrict volume changes to EME staff on request.
Stated by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 February 2022.
Action
Review alarm levels during configuration of current ICU monitors and agree settings through the configuration working group.
Stated by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 28 February 2022.
West Yorkshire Eastern
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of sterile replacement catheters in stock
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 concerns
Each 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
Action
Update the catheter policy to require sufficient stocks for planned, unplanned and emergency catheter changes.
Stated by Exemplar Health CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 31 January 2022.
Action
Implement layered catheter-stock controls, including weekly checks, resident-level supplies, minimum backup stocks, daily records and handover sign-off.
Stated by Exemplar Health CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 31 January 2022.
Action
Implement EMAR stock visibility, low-stock alerts and daily or weekly dashboard monitoring with remote clinical oversight.
Stated by Exemplar Health CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 31 January 2022.
Action
Provide EMAR training to staff and access to continuous EMAR support and an out-of-hours management contact system.
Stated by Exemplar Health CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 31 January 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
The catheter stock failure was an isolated communication error, with no evidence of similar incidents occurring before or since.
Stated by Exemplar Health CareDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Existing electronic, visual and dashboard stock controls remove the risk of communication errors causing catheter shortages.
Stated by Exemplar Health CareExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Mid Kent and Medway
Concerns raised1
Chronic shortages of falls alarm equipment for patients assessed as requiring it
Responses linked to these concerns
Each 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.8
Action
Purchase additional falls alarms, bed sensor pads and chair sensor pads to increase available equipment.
Stated by Medway NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 23 April 2021.
Action
Implement ward-level stocktaking, local stock monitoring and daily checks alongside the centrally held falls-equipment reserve.
Stated by Medway NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 23 April 2021.
Action
Identify budget and establish RFID tagging, logging and tracking for falls equipment.
Stated by Medway NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 23 April 2021.
Action
Disseminate and require compliance with the falls-equipment procurement and non-availability escalation procedure.
Stated by Medway NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 23 April 2021.
Action
Maintain up-to-date falls-equipment training for staff working predominantly nights.
Stated by Medway NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 23 April 2021.
Action
Remind appropriate staff to report and escalate falls-equipment shortages promptly.
Stated by Medway NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 23 April 2021.
Action
Require Clinical Engineering to notify the dedicated falls team of shortages and provide twice-yearly stock reports and annual stocktakes.
Stated by Medway NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 23 April 2021.
Action
Maintain 10 dedicated, tracked falls alarms in the Emergency Cupboard at all times.
Stated by Medway NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 23 April 2021.
Essex
Concerns raised1
Unavailability or unsuitability of resuscitation equipment on the maternity ward
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 concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Black Country
Concerns raised1
Lack of waterproof equipment for foetal heart rate auscultation during birthing pool births
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 concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of anticoagulant antidote supplies at the resuscitation unit
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 concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Unavailability or non-use of required wound dressings
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 concerns
Each 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
Action
Complete the extended comprehensive inspection of Fernlea Care Home, examining pressure-ulcer management and management oversight.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 31 December 2019.
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Includes availability, stock, checking, maintenance or servicing failures that leave essential clinical equipment or supplies unavailable or unfit for use.
