First reported 28 Nov 2013•Latest report 20 Oct 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures in the dedicated transfer of existing medical records between healthcare organisations, including delayed, incomplete, untraceable or systemically unsupported transfer between GP practices, hospitals, mental-health services or other healthcare organisations where the records are needed for safe care.
Not included
Excludes generic inter-agency information-sharing failures where the asserted object is not medical records or an equivalent clinical record transfer.
Excludes failures to create, complete or accurately maintain records when transfer or inter-organisational availability is not the unsafe condition.
Excludes failures limited to reviewing or acting on records after they have been reliably transferred and made available.
Excludes transfer of non-clinical records, administrative documents or information between organisations without a healthcare medical-record context.
Excludes communication of isolated clinical advice or results where the dedicated medical-record transfer process is not deficient.
Reports
29
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
30
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2013–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
47
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 England11
Department of Health and Social Care8
Care Quality Commission3
Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB2
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board2
Recipient name withheld2
Royal College of General Practitioners2
Barts Health NHS Trust1
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust1
Birmingham City Council1
Birmingham Women'S and Children'S NHS Foundation Trust1
Clinical Commissioning Groups (England)1
Dr Simon Chapple1
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust1
Egton Medical Information Systems Limited1
Executive non-departmental public body11
NHS trust11
Ministerial department8
Integrated care board6
Type not available4
Health and social care service regulator3
Healthcare site3
Local health board3
Health professional body2
Independent healthcare provider2
Multi-service care provider2
Private limited company2
English county council1
English metropolitan district council1
Prison operator1
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.
Avon
Concerns raised1
Lack of a standard medical records system accessible to each healthcare organisation
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.
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
Continue discussions with PECS to commence pilots enabling Liaison and Diversion services to access and update the Digital Person Escort Record.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 23 October 2025.
East Riding and Hull
Concerns raised1
Failure of GP out-of-hours surgeries to access key GP medical history information after patient consent
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
Support greater integration and awareness of record sharing between in-hours and out-of-hours providers.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 21 May 2025.
Action
Work with the Shared Care Records Programme to support wider access to relevant patient information.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 21 May 2025.
Action
Scrutinise providers’ handling of correspondence, clinical coding, information sharing, patient pathways and significant-event learning during inspection and monitoring activity.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 May 2025.
Action
Migrate clinical IT from EMIS to TPP SystmOne and enable GP Connect to support consent-based access to medical summaries.
Stated by Holderness HealthStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 May 2025.
Action
Highlight the concerns to the Professional Record Standards Body regarding interoperability.
Stated by Royal College of General PractitionersStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 21 May 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.5
Position
Dictating providers’ computer systems and IT infrastructure is outside CQC’s role and remit.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Decisions about providers’ computer systems and IT infrastructure are a commissioning matter, not under CQC’s direct control.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
The remote surgery was not a significant or currently active problem and therefore would not generally appear in GP Connect’s limited summary.
Stated by Holderness HealthDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Making all GP IT systems identical is not possible because government policy promotes plurality among GP IT providers.
Stated by Royal College of General PractitionersDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
NHS England owns the interoperability strategy and GP Connect, so responsibility for this work lies with NHS England.
Stated by Royal College of General PractitionersRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Devon, Plymouth and Torbay
Concerns raised1
Failure of separate hospital trusts to provide clinicians with access to each other’s medical records
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.3
Action
Continue collaborating with neighbouring NHS partners to coordinate care, treatment and information sharing for patients receiving cross-organisation care.
Stated by Somerset NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 14 July 2025.
Action
Work with Somerset Integrated Care Board and the national team to develop an integrated electronic health record across Somerset services.
Stated by Somerset NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 14 July 2025.
Action
Implement a single electronic patient record across the merged Trust sites to improve coordination and continuity of care.
Stated by Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 14 July 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Funding integrated information technology systems across organisations is beyond the Trust’s control.
Stated by Somerset NHS Foundation TrustUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Merged services, a shared electronic record and planned Devon-wide integration are considered sufficient to improve coordination across sites.
Stated by Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Gloucestershire
Concerns raised1
Lack of interoperable electronic patient-record systems between general practices
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.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Existing GMS requirements and GP2GP enable electronic patient records to transfer between practices using different systems.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Inner West London
Concerns raised1
Failure to share medical notes and information between private practitioners and NHS providers
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
Review and develop a consent process for recording and sharing information when patients receive both NHS and private care.
Stated by South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 31 July 2024.
Action
Remind staff about the Urgent Care Pathway, checking private treatment and consent, and the Private Providers Shared Care Policy through a Monthly Learning Bulletin and local GP networks.
Stated by South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 31 July 2024.
Action
Continue trialling Summary Care Record access with private hospitals and privately funded healthcare services.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 31 July 2024.
Action
Work with an Expert Advisory Committee to seek approval for independent-sector rollout and consider its scope, exclusions, constraints, and caveats.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 31 July 2024.
Action
Review the interface between NHS and non-NHS-funded independent health providers.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 31 July 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
Position
National systems and guidance for information sharing between NHS and private providers are principally matters for NHS England and the Department of Health.
Stated by South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS TrustRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Clinical information cannot ordinarily be shared between NHS and private practitioners without explicit patient consent, except where risk makes sharing essential.
Stated by South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS TrustUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
NHS England is responsible for improving information sharing and reviewing the interface between NHS and non-NHS-funded independent providers.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Responsibility for delivering shared care records sits with local Integrated Care Boards.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Failure of separate trust IT systems to transmit test information into the other trust’s patient 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 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
Collaborate across patient-safety and digital-clinical-safety teams to extract learning from EPR incidents and provide scenarios for evaluating systems and processes.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 4 July 2024.
Action
Continue improving interoperability between primary, secondary, tertiary and wider care information technology systems.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 4 July 2024.
Action
Challenge digital transformation leaders to examine interfaces between secondary and tertiary care systems and improve provider collaboration.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care BoardStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 4 July 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Existing EPR optimisation programmes at MUFT and NCA are considered sufficient to address concerns about separate clinical information systems.
Stated by NHS EnglandExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
East Sussex
Concerns raised2
Failure to reliably transfer key medical information between incompatible systems
Delays in transferring medical information to prison healthcare staff
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
Undertake an internal review of EMIS Web interoperability and medical-record transfer issues raised in the report.
Stated by Egton Medical Information Systems LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 March 2024.
Action
Maintain compliance with the latest NHS England GP2GP specifications and associated processes for electronic medical-record transfers.
Stated by Egton Medical Information Systems LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 March 2024.
Stated by Egton Medical Information Systems LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 March 2024.
Action
Enable functionality supporting automatic electronic transfer of prisoners’ full community GP records to prison GPs and back on release.
Stated by The Phoenix Partnership (Leeds) LtdStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 March 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
Existing GP2GP functionality and NHS England specification compliance sufficiently mitigate the identified medical-record transfer risks; no further software development is required.
Stated by Egton Medical Information Systems LimitedExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
EMIS cannot control whether prisons request medical records through GP2GP or a manual process.
Stated by Egton Medical Information Systems LimitedUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
GP data controllers are responsible for permitting data sharing and enabling the relevant reciprocal controls under data protection legislation.
Stated by The Phoenix Partnership (Leeds) LtdRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
North Wales (East and Central)
Concerns raised1
Delays and failures in transferring and acting on discharge clinical documentation
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.2
Action
Develop a standard operating procedure governing information sharing, repatriation and discharge planning, and key documentation for out-of-area acute placements.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHBStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 12 February 2024.
Action
Launch and implement the fully ratified standard operating procedure for out-of-area acute placements.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHBStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 12 February 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Lawful constraints prevented delaying discharge or requiring a joint discharge meeting for an informal patient who wished to leave.
Stated by Elysium Healthcare LimitedUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
The framework agreement and internal policy adequately govern information sharing; concurrent discharge letters are not contractually required.
Stated by Elysium Healthcare LimitedExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure that patient notes accompany external appointments
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 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
Review the process for sending patient notes to external hospital appointments and identify governance gaps.
Stated by Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 December 2023.
Action
Revise and approve the external patient transfer policy, including handover responsibility, a transfer checklist, receipt signatures, and a minimum medical-information dataset.
Stated by Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 December 2023.
Action
Digitise medical notes across hospital sites to enable seamless transfer of records between digitally enabled hospitals.
Stated by Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 1 December 2023.
North West Wales
Concerns raised1
Risk of full or partial loss of paper medical notes during transfer
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
Participate in regional and local-authority discussions to assess alternative digital patient-record options for North Wales.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHBStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 14 September 2023.
Action
Develop a Health Board strategic outline case for electronic patient records, incorporating MHLD requirements to address fragmented care records.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHBStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 14 September 2023.
Action
Work with the Chief Information Officer to consider options for a more timely MHLD digital-record solution.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHBStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 14 September 2023.
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Includes failures in the dedicated transfer of existing medical records between healthcare organisations, including delayed, incomplete, untraceable or systemically unsupported transfer between GP practices, hospitals, mental-health services or other healthcare organisations where the records are needed for safe care.
