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.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Shortage of Braun’s Frames for safe leg elevation
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 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
Purchase and provide four additional Braun frames for Ward D1, increasing the hospital total to eight.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 20 June 2016.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
There is no direct evidence that limb elevation reduces venous thromboembolism, and the elevation method does not affect that risk.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation TrustDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised1
Unavailability and non-use of standard physiological observation equipment for mothers and babies
This report raised 13 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.
Warwickshire
Concerns raised2
Unavailability of working suction equipment on wards
Lack of an effective procedure for checking suction equipment on wards
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.
West Yorkshire (Western)
Concerns raised1
Lack of suction equipment for clearing airways
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 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.
Portsmouth and South East Hampshire
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of useful equipment in nursing home emergency resuscitation packs
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.
Worcestershire
Concerns raised1
Unavailability and poor identification of required traction equipment
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 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.3
Action
Expand on-site spinal equipment and establish a central store for traction apparatus.
Stated by the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 December 2015.
Action
Enhance the internal equipment register to identify traction equipment held elsewhere.
Stated by the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 December 2015.
Action
Develop pictorial traction-equipment guidance and respond to related staff training and orientation needs.
Stated by the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 December 2015.
Manchester West
Concerns raised1
Lack of mandatory carriage of airway adjuncts, suction equipment, bag-valve-mask equipment and defibrillators on all aircraft
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
Engage Member States to reconsider defibrillator carriage through available-data analysis and an initial discussion at the scheduled advisory-group meeting.
Stated by European Union Aviation Safety AgencyStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 3 July 2015.
Action
Write to Ryanair about carrying AEDs on its fleet.
Stated by Irish Aviation AuthorityStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 July 2015.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.6
Position
Passengers are not at increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest, which is exceptionally rare on short-haul flights, and defibrillators often do not succeed.
Stated by Dame Deirdre HuttonDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Existing voluntary carriage, regulatory consideration requirements and evidence review make mandating general carriage of this equipment currently difficult to justify.
Stated by Dame Deirdre HuttonExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
The UK cannot act alone to introduce legal changes because mandating the equipment would require significant international agreement.
Stated by Dame Deirdre HuttonUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
EASA must consider regulatory changes for EU operators, while ICAO must consider them for non-European operators.
Stated by Dame Deirdre HuttonRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Existing EASA and ICAO arrangements, including operator risk assessments, are considered sufficient; AED carriage is not strictly required.
Stated by Irish Aviation AuthorityExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Operators are responsible for deciding whether to carry AEDs based on the particular needs and risk assessment of each operation.
Stated by Irish Aviation AuthorityRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
London (East)
Concerns raised1
Failure to make flexible sigmoidoscopy equipment available out of hours
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 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.
Cheshire
Concerns raised1
Failure to check defibrillator equipment daily for serviceability
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.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of a Gum-elastic Bougie Airway on the crash trolley
This report raised 8 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.
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Includes availability, stock, checking, maintenance or servicing failures that leave essential clinical equipment or supplies unavailable or unfit for use.
