Recurring concern

Inadequate safety incident investigations

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First reported 13 Dec 2008•Latest report 25 Jun 2026

Definition

What this concern includes

Includes initiation, evidence gathering, witness testing, factual accuracy, analysis, timeliness, investigator competence and reporting within investigations of deaths, serious incidents and patient, resident or operational safety events.

Not included

  • Police, conduct, regulatory or other investigations not directed at organisational safety learning
  • Failure to implement an unrelated safety action not arising from an incident investigation
  • Generic governance failures not directly affecting a safety incident investigation or its learning process
  • Excludes downstream dissemination, learning and corrective-action controls once the investigation findings have been established.
Reports
244

Distinct published reports

Individual concerns
316

A report can raise multiple concerns

Date range
2008–2026

First to latest report issue date

Stated actions
447

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.

Department of Health and Social Care31
Care Quality Commission21
NHS England20
Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB11
Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust10
Barts Health NHS Trust8
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust8
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust7
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust6
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust5
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust5
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust5
Health and Safety Executive4
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency4
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board4

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.

  1. County Durham and Darlington

    AI-generated summary

    Gary William Million · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Gary William Million telephoned 111 on 23 November 2013 but could not provide clear information about his location and then became silent. There was a prolonged delay in locating his address, including an incorrect address being given to the ambulance, and the crew attended the correct address at 01:10. The concerns included inadequate procedures and training for locating potentially seriously ill callers, communication issues with BT, weaknesses in the investigation and insufficiently robust follow-up procedures.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Insufficiently thorough and incisive investigation of safety incidents

    Wider context from the report

    “4. A detailed investigation that was undertaken by North East Ambulance Trust is upon closer examination, in places lacking depth and incisiveness. ”

    Source location

    Gary William Million · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
  2. North West Wales

    AI-generated summary

    Mr Hywel Llewelyn Hughes · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Mr Hywel Llewelyn Hughes was forcibly removed from a nightclub, restrained face down by door staff, and later declared deceased in hospital on 3 May 2003. The inquest concluded that the medical cause of death was traumatic asphyxia and that police actions were inappropriate and more probably than not contributed more than minimally to his death. Concerns included training and monitoring of detainees during restraint and transport, and shortcomings in the licensing, training, auditing and review of door supervisors.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to review restraint-related deaths for licensing and responsibility lessons

    Wider context from the report

    “(5) The SIA does not undertake any review or inquiry into those deaths indicated by Inquest or criminal findings to be related to restraint by door supervisors to determine whether there are any lessons to be learnt in so far as their licensing or other responsibilities are concerned. ”

    Source location

    Mr Hywel Llewelyn Hughes · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
  3. Cornwall

    AI-generated summary

    Mrs Care · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Mrs Care, an 86-year-old woman with poor mobility, was transferred to Helston Hospital for rehabilitation after treatment at Treliske and died there on 12 October 2013 after rapidly deteriorating. Extensive bruising and a soft tissue haematoma were found, with the haematoma recorded as contributory to her death; the inquest found it was more likely than not that trauma caused the bruising during her stay at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, but its precise cause was not established. The report also raises concerns that an Allow Natural Death Order was not communicated to the family and that their calls about the bruising were not returned.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to establish how patient trauma was sustained during hoist transfers

    Wider context from the report

    “At inquest I found as a matter of fact that it was more likely than not that trauma caused the extensive bruising seen on Mrs Care’s hip and abdomen at post-mortem. I further found that it was more likely than not that this trauma was sustained during Mrs Care’s stay in the Royal Cornwall Hospital. Evidence was read out at inquest that nothing untoward happened during the ambulance transfer. The bruising itself was discovered at the time of Mrs Care’s admission into Helston Community Hospital. I was not able to offer the family an explanation at inquest as to how this trauma had been sustained. That is plainly undesirable and it is for this reason that I write to bring this matter to your attention. You will understand that the pathologist found the extensive soft tissue haematoma was contributory to Mrs Care’s death, something the family described as “a sad state of affairs”. During the course of the inquest it was drawn to my attention that owing to the fact Mrs Care had become immobile she was being moved with a hoist. It was speculated that this may be the cause of the bruising that was seen. I had no evidence, however, from anyone who had been involved in moving Mrs Care by this means. ”

    Source location

    Mrs Care · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
  4. Inner South London

    AI-generated summary

    Miss Abiola Dosunmu · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Abiola Dosunmu developed abnormal blood tests, proteinuria and symptoms that were treated as cellulitis, before rapidly deteriorating and being found dead at home on 24 August 2012. The report identified concerns about failures to communicate the proteinuria and abnormal results, inadequate follow-up and monitoring, and a missed opportunity to diagnose and treat SLE earlier.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure of the Serious Untoward Incident Investigation to consider concerns about clinical communication and consultant notification

    Wider context from the report

    “(6) Concerns (2) (3) and (5) above were not considered by the Serious Untoward Incident Investigation by the Trust. ”

    Source location

    Miss Abiola Dosunmu · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
  5. West Yorkshire (East)

    AI-generated summary

    Mary WANYA · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Mary Wanya died after falling through a hospital window on 1 November 2011 while in an acutely confused and agitated state. The window restrictor was defective, allowing the window to be fully opened. Concerns included delays in psychiatric assessment, the assessment and treatment of mental illness on the Medical Admissions Unit, her earlier diagnosis and discharge, and the inadequacy of the Trust’s investigation report.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure of investigation reports to address relevant clinical issues and delays

    Wider context from the report

    “(2) Regarding the Trusts Level 3 Investigation Report prepared by ████████ Head of Health and Safety dated 8th February 2012. I regard this as being an inadequate and unhelpful Report, which only concentrated on the defective windows, which although a relevant issue, this Report did not address the serious issues in respect of Mary Wanya’s misdiagnosis and her inappropriate discharge from Ward 26 on 30th October 2011. The Report did not address the delays in ruling out physical illness outlined herein and the subsequent delays in obtaining psychiatric assessment. I therefore recommend that the Trust should review it’s procedures for the instigation of such Reports and should ensure that the Lead Investigator and the author of such Reports has appropriate knowledge, experience and qualifications to address the relevant issues. It is clear to me that a person from a Health and Safety background, such as ████████, did not have the appropriate knowledge, experience and qualifications to assess medical and clinical issues, which was clearly part of the Root cause of this enquiry ”

    Source location

    Mary WANYA · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to ensure investigation authors have appropriate clinical knowledge, experience and qualifications

    Wider context from the report

    “(2) Regarding the Trusts Level 3 Investigation Report prepared by ████████ Head of Health and Safety dated 8th February 2012. I regard this as being an inadequate and unhelpful Report, which only concentrated on the defective windows, which although a relevant issue, this Report did not address the serious issues in respect of Mary Wanya’s misdiagnosis and her inappropriate discharge from Ward 26 on 30th October 2011. The Report did not address the delays in ruling out physical illness outlined herein and the subsequent delays in obtaining psychiatric assessment. I therefore recommend that the Trust should review it’s procedures for the instigation of such Reports and should ensure that the Lead Investigator and the author of such Reports has appropriate knowledge, experience and qualifications to address the relevant issues. It is clear to me that a person from a Health and Safety background, such as ████████, did not have the appropriate knowledge, experience and qualifications to assess medical and clinical issues, which was clearly part of the Root cause of this enquiry ”

    Source location

    Mary WANYA · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
  6. London (East)

    AI-generated summary

    Roy Joseph Godfrey · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Roy Joseph Godfrey, a 71-year-old resident of a residential care home, suffered an unwitnessed fall and head injury while taking long-term warfarin. He was later found unresponsive and died from a fatal subdural haematoma. Concerns included insufficient awareness of the bleeding risk associated with head injury and warfarin, inadequate overnight neurological checks and recording, and shortcomings in the care home's investigation documentation.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Inadequacy of investigation documentation following a safety incident

    Wider context from the report

    “7. I heard a great deal of evidence from the London Ambulance Service in relation to a thorough investigation they had conducted into this case. They had the assistance of an independent clinical advisor and had identified all of the relevant issues. They had taken all of the action required to address those issues. BUPA Care Homes however had provided a one page document headed “Summary of Investigation”. This was the only investigation document ”

    Source location

    Roy Joseph Godfrey · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
  7. Inner North London

    AI-generated summary

    Georgina Violet SWINDELLS · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Georgina Violet Swindells underwent a right hemicolectomy for colon cancer and subsequently developed persistent hypotension and haemorrhage, dying on 18 September 2013. Concerns included delayed and failed transfer of CT images, the absence of an effective backup process, apparently erroneous reporting of the scan, and insufficient investigation data and incident reporting.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to clarify the cause of erroneous scan reports and steps to address them

    Wider context from the report

    “(5) The cause of the apparently erroneous scan report and steps taken to address this issue were not sufficiently clarified on the available evidence. This raises concerns that mis-reporting could happen again. ”

    Source location

    Georgina Violet SWINDELLS · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
  8. Inner North London

    AI-generated summary

    Bertha CRAY · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Bertha CRAY’s oesophagus was perforated during an upper-gastrointestinal endoscopy, and she later died from bronchopneumonia resulting from the perforation and surgical treatment. The report raised concerns about the possible inadvertent alteration or replacement of ‘nil by mouth’ signage, uncertainty about how this occurred, and the lack of demonstrated action following the incident investigation.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to elucidate the cause of alteration of ‘nil by mouth’ signage

    Wider context from the report

    “(2) On the account provided by the family, the ‘nil by mouth’ sign was replaced by some other means. The cause of this alteration is unclear, owing to the focus of the incident form being the ‘double-sided’ account, provided by the nursing staff. As such, it is possible that there could be a recurrence of this incident, as the cause has not been elucidated. ”

    Source location

    Bertha CRAY · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
  9. Coventry

    AI-generated summary

    Mary WALDRON · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Mary Waldron became unwell at St Mary's Nursing Home on 24 August 2013 and was transferred to University Hospital, Coventry, where she died after suffering a cardiac arrest during the transfer. Concerns included failures to recognise and appropriately respond to her acute illness and low blood pressure, inadequate ongoing staff training, shortcomings in the nursing home's investigation and reporting, uncertainty about the CQC investigation, and potential confusion between ambulance drivers and paramedics about transfer times.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure of nursing home managers to undertake effective incident investigations

    Wider context from the report

    “(4) failure of the nursing home managers to undertake an effective investigation into this incident and to take action to prevent repetition; ”

    Source location

    Mary WALDRON · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
  10. Blackpool and the Fylde

    AI-generated summary

    Roy Frank Fletcher · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Roy Frank Fletcher, who had a long history of depression, left Parkwood Hospital on 6 July 2010 after exiting through a partially open ward door and following another service user out of the building. He was found deceased at approximately 7.30 pm at a local holiday park, having taken his own life by hanging. The report raised concerns that the Trust’s post-incident review was not sufficiently thorough, including that it had not explored how he exited or whether similar incidents had occurred.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure of Post Incident Reviews to thoroughly and comprehensively explore all relevant issues

    Wider context from the report

    “I am concerned that the review undertaken was significantly lacking for the following reasons: • CCTV footage shows that at the relevant time the Deceased shows him following another Service User out of the reception area at the hospital. It seems no steps had been taken to speak to that Service User in order to establish if he had been aware that he was a vehicle for the Deceased’s exit from hospital, and if so on what basis. • Further, the oral evidence provided to the inquiry by ████████ suggested that the review had not explored whether other service users had left the relevant ward, or the reception area of the hospital in similar circumstances. Having concluded this inquest, I now write to the Trust to confirm that in my view the Trust should take action because: • When Post Incident Reviews are undertaken it is important that they are thorough and comprehensive and that all of the relevant issues are explored prior to recommendations being made arising from that review and the organisation making recommendation for remedial action, if any, to be undertaken. • If such reviews are lacking, there is a risk that an organisation may not appreciate whether a problem is a persistent one, potentially helpful changes to procedures may not be put in place and future deaths may occur which may otherwise have been prevented. ”

    Source location

    Roy Frank Fletcher · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
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Data last updated 7 September 2026