Recurring concern
Unreliable hospital discharge documentation
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Request correctionFirst reported 30 Jan 2013•Latest report 27 May 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures to create, complete, retain or make available hospital discharge documentation, including the reason for discharge, discharge decisions, follow-up or advice, and other material information needed for continuity and safe review.
Not included
- Excludes failures in the clinical suitability or timing of discharge where discharge documentation is not itself deficient.
- Excludes medication-supply, discharge-summary-to-GP and patient-accessibility failures where the specific unsafe condition is a separate named discharge-information process.
- Excludes failures to implement post-discharge care after complete and available discharge documentation has been provided.
- Excludes generic clinical-record deficiencies unrelated to documenting or retaining hospital discharge information.
- Reports
- 43
- Individual concerns
- 47
- Date range
- 2013–2026
- Stated actions
- 74
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
Incomplete mental-capacity documentation at discharge
This report raised 25 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 documentation of significant discharge decisions
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.
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 discharge guidance for monitoring, cleaning and flushing Hickman or central lines
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
Failure to maintain documentary proof of discharge notification calls
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
Failure to document outstanding test results and required follow-up in discharge 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
Insufficient DSS input into discharge safety plans
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
Incomplete nursing discharge notes covering required pre-discharge checks
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.1
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Action
Review the day-case discharge process outside the Day Procedure discharge pathway for consistency.
Stated by Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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
The Trust’s implemented Action Plan was considered to have addressed the reported care concerns, with learning and improvement demonstrated.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
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Position
Professional regulatory bodies are responsible for investigating registrants’ alleged failures to meet standards and taking necessary safeguarding action.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care -
Position
The Department cannot become involved in or comment on individual cases.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
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Concerns raised1
Failure to record the reason for discharge
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
Failure to complete discharge paperwork
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.5
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Action
Provide ward nurses with refresher training on discharge processes, required documentation and Do Not Attempt Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation forms.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Emphasize completion of nurse-to-nurse discharge summaries for patients transferred to or returning to residential or nursing home care.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Conduct monthly snapshot audits of ward medical records to monitor discharge-documentation standards.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
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Action
Review the forms used for discharge planning.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Develop new discharge-planning paperwork to facilitate timely documentation and daily consideration of patients’ progress toward discharge.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
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
The discharge process was not fundamentally flawed; shortcomings arose from inadequate implementation on this occasion.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure of discharge documentation to include vital admission and discharge information
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.
Data last updated 7 September 2026