Recurring concern
Unreliable multi-agency communication procedures
First reported 29 May 2013•Latest report 16 Jun 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures of explicitly multi-agency communication procedures that impair the timely, accurate and complete exchange of safety-relevant information between involved agencies, including the anchor's prison-services communication failure.
Not included
- Excludes generic communication, training, staffing or coordination deficiencies where no explicitly multi-agency communication procedure is identified.
- Excludes failures confined to a single organisation's internal communication process.
- Excludes failures of a separately named pathway, system or hazard when that concern provides the more specific supported boundary.
- Excludes neutral descriptions of multi-agency working without an identified unsafe communication condition.
- Reports
- 134
- Individual concerns
- 145
- Date range
- 2013–2026
- Stated actions
- 303
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
Poor communication within Sussex Partnership Trust and to Brighton & Sussex University Hospital Trust
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.
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 direct communication between offender managers and hospital clinicians before recall decisions
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.
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
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Action
Replace and update the recall guidance governing recall processes.
Stated by Directorate of Probation in NOMS -
Action
Remind all probation staff of recall procedures through senior-leader communication.
Stated by Directorate of Probation in NOMS
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
Existing recall guidance is considered clear and sufficient to ensure recall follows full consideration of relevant facts.
Stated by Directorate of Probation in NOMS
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Concerns raised1
Lack of nationally agreed standard assessment forms for cross-organisational mental health transfers
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
Failure to escalate and notify trolley users of the known cot-side locking risk
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.
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 re-instate a Trust-wide trolley safety campaign through computer screensavers, posters and updated training-website instructions.
Stated by Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
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Position
MHRA considered a Medical Device Alert unnecessary because evidence and risk assessment did not justify additional safety messaging.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
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Position
Available reports indicated the QA3 side-rail problem was local to RBH rather than a wider problem across hospitals.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
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Concerns raised1
Failure of communication between police and hospital staff about missing-person status
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.
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
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Action
Review the Force Missing Person Policy with NHS partners to address missing-person responsibilities and communication issues.
Stated by Surrey Police -
Action
Continue working with NHS and medical partners to establish effective communication channels and consistent responses to mental-health issues.
Stated by Surrey Police
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 communication failure concerned notification of an absent classification, not mental health issues in the wider context.
Stated by Surrey Police
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Concerns raised1
Lack of dialogue between police and local A&E departments about treatment misunderstandings
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.4
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Action
Establish joint guidance for assessing, treating, discharging and communicating information about aggressive or medically unwell detainees attending emergency departments.
Stated by NHS Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield CCG and NHS Hartlepool and Stockton on Tees CCG and NHS North Durham CCG and NHS South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group -
Action
Keep the Durham emergency-department process under review and discuss arising concerns monthly in relevant meetings.
Stated by NHS Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield CCG and NHS Hartlepool and Stockton on Tees CCG and NHS North Durham CCG and NHS South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group -
Action
Issue Cleveland Police guidance for managing aggressive detainees transferred to emergency or mental-health services, incorporating agreed police and NHS arrangements.
Stated by Cleveland Police
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Action
Review the effectiveness of the guidance after six months.
Stated by Cleveland Police
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Concerns raised1
Lack of communication between GMP and MEDACS about the existence of an escalation protocol
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
Disseminate the MEDACS Escalation Policy to all custody staff by email and through Custody Branch Orders.
Stated by Greater Manchester Police
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Concerns raised2
Failure of multi-agency communication procedures
Failure of multi-agency communication procedures
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.
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
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Action
Implement local information-sharing and multi-agency communication policies, including staff reminders on gathering, assessing and sharing risk information.
Stated by Pentonville Prison and Thameside Prison -
Action
Enable prison and healthcare staff at Thameside to work together at reception and use a dedicated form to communicate relevant prisoner information.
Stated by Pentonville Prison and Thameside Prison
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Concerns raised1
Failure to pass high-risk information between police forces and control rooms
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.
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
Complete a thorough review of the information-sharing concern, consulting senior colleagues across relevant departments.
Stated by Thames Valley Police
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
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Position
Thames Valley Police disputes that it failed to inform Gloucestershire Police of the relevant welfare concerns.
Stated by Thames Valley Police
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Position
Gloucestershire Police was responsible for assessing whether the shared information required a different intervention.
Stated by Thames Valley Police
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Concerns raised1
Failure to clearly flag direct suicide threats to agencies responsible for housing and eviction
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