Recurring concern
Failure to provide continuity of patient care
First reported 4 Sep 2013•Latest report 15 Jun 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures of the end-to-end patient-care continuity process, including unclear or unassigned responsibility, changing or excessive personnel, inadequate continuity between clinicians or services, and insufficient coordination that leaves care fragmented or without consistent oversight.
Not included
- Excludes failures limited to a specific handover, record, referral or discharge control when continuity of patient care is not itself the shared unsafe condition.
- Excludes generic staffing shortages, workload or turnover concerns unless they directly result in failure to maintain continuity of patient care.
- Excludes continuity failures in non-patient processes, such as equipment, premises or administrative workflows.
- Excludes failures belonging to a more specific named safety system or pathway where that system is the supported parent boundary.
- Reports
- 88
- Individual concerns
- 92
- Date range
- 2013–2026
- Stated actions
- 151
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
Lack of continuity between operating surgeons and postoperative consultants
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
Run mandatory daily morning Board Rounds across all wards and specialties to coordinate patient acuity, investigations, interventions and communication.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to assign overall responsibility for asthma care
This report raised 23 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
Share examples of effective asthma-service practice through the clinical networks.
Stated by NHS England
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Concerns raised1
Lack of continuity of care preventing a clinician from maintaining an overview of the patient and her health
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 clinical staffing numbers and clinical sessions to support patient continuity and existing staff.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
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Concerns raised1
Lack of continuity of care
This report raised 7 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 a coordinated plan to treat alcohol dependence
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.4
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Action
Maintain a 24-hour referral service and dedicated pathway with the Inclusion Service.
Stated by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Provide alcohol-service inpatient access through weekly and arranged ad hoc Inclusion inreach.
Stated by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Maintain telephone and onsite liaison with Inclusion regarding referrals and referred patients receiving inpatient care.
Stated by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Action
Participate in a monthly multi-provider High Intensity User Group to identify further support for frequent attenders.
Stated by Hampshire Hospitals 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
Existing referral, liaison, follow-up and high-intensity-user arrangements are considered sufficient to address the reported concerns.
Stated by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to maintain continuity of engagement and care during key staff changes and sickness absence
This report raised 7 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 continuity of care when patients have contact with multiple professionals
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
Inconsistent continuity of psychiatric care across teams and wards
This report raised 7 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
Develop a consistent Manchester divisional service model to improve continuity of care.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Strengthen clinical and operational leadership, consultant supervision and recruitment oversight across Manchester services.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Reduce out-of-area placements and create local inpatient capacity to limit transfers and preserve continuity.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
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Action
Use patient-flow processes to identify high-risk individuals and minimise multiple-team involvement where clinically appropriate.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Review care-planning procedures to strengthen continuity and consistent management plans for high-risk individuals.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure consistency and continuity of care
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.1
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Action
Introduce the Modified Modified Continuity Index into routine reporting, trial it in one team, and then implement it across Crisis Teams.
Stated by Nottinghamshire Healthcare 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
Continuity of staff cannot always be provided because 24-hour crisis response requirements and high-intensity care create operational constraints.
Stated by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Lack of continuity in medical care
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.
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
Mrs Parker was seen by three junior doctors, not seven.
Stated by Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
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Position
Multiple clinicians are normal practice because specialist input and full handover provide appropriate continuity of care.
Stated by Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
Data last updated 7 September 2026