Recurring concern
Incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable clinical and care records
First reported 13 Dec 2008•Latest report 26 Jun 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures affecting the completeness, accuracy, consistency, availability, legibility or contemporaneous maintenance of patient, resident and clinical care records.
Not included
- Information-transfer failures where the underlying records are reliable
- Documentation dedicated to a separately named safety system when that system supplies the more faithful parent boundary
- Non-care administrative records
- Reports
- 474
- Individual concerns
- 568
- Date range
- 2008–2026
- Stated actions
- 780
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
Inadequate and incomplete record keeping
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 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 the electronic care-planning system to improve real-time recording and structured care documentation.
Stated by Persona Care And Support Limited
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Concerns raised4
Failure to record chest examination findings
Delays in recording consultation notes
Failure to record swallow test findings
Failure to record reported non-adherence to lithium medication
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
Poor or non-existent record keeping
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.
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 document conversations with other clinicians
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
Failure to contemporaneously document needle insertion and withdrawal times and ultrasound fetal heartbeat monitoring time
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
Lack of written guidance on robust recording by first aid staff of patients attended and action taken
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 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
Insufficient recording and care planning of patient leave, including its rationale, benefits and risks
Failure to document and clearly formulate patient risks in the medical 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.5
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Action
Consider amending the Leave Policy to include additional requirements for care planning regular patient leave.
Stated by Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Pilot leave diaries in secure services to assess whether they improve the quality of post-leave documentation.
Stated by Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Write to consultants and ward managers reiterating the need to document the rationale, risks and benefits for each patient accessing leave.
Stated by Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
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Action
Prompt nursing teams to reassess patients’ risks and mental state immediately before leave and document the decision in clinical records.
Stated by Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Include the actions’ impact in a clinical audit, then review findings and provide feedback through team clinical supervision.
Stated by Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to transcribe information provided by patients or families for clinical teams
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
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 raised2
Inadequate clinical documentation for care continuity
Lack of meaningful documentation in hospital notes
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 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
Introduce Care View on the Acute Medical Unit to communicate high-risk patients and their management plans.
Stated by Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust -
Action
Review how compliance with the Health Record Content policy is monitored.
Stated by Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust -
Action
Conduct twice-yearly audits of the 14 Health Record Content policy standards, including arrangements for future and ongoing care.
Stated by Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
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Action
Circulate the prevention-of-future-deaths concerns to all Trust consultants and remind them of documentation accountabilities and Royal College of Physicians standards.
Stated by Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
Data last updated 7 September 2026