Recurring concern
Failure to seek medical attention when a person's condition warrants it
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Request correctionFirst reported 5 Sep 2013•Latest report 16 Jun 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures to recognise the need for and promptly seek medical, paramedic or other appropriate clinical assistance when a person's injury, pain, fall, deterioration or other condition warrants it, including failures in care homes and emergency-response settings.
Not included
- Excludes delays or failures occurring after medical assistance has already been requested, including ambulance attendance or hospital handover delays.
- Excludes failures limited to the quality of assessment or treatment after medical assistance has been obtained.
- Excludes failures to seek advice about routine care arrangements where no immediate or clinically warranted need for medical attention is identified.
- Excludes generic staffing, training, communication or documentation deficiencies unless they directly result in failure to seek warranted medical attention.
- Reports
- 56
- Individual concerns
- 61
- Date range
- 2013–2026
- Stated actions
- 81
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
Failure to escalate to the medical team
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
Implement the approved blood-glucose monitoring guideline, including traffic-light interpretation, hypoglycaemia management and escalation procedures.
Stated by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust -
Action
Provide monthly induction training for clinical support workers, registered nurses and junior doctors on diabetic monitoring, equipment, escalation and referrals.
Stated by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust -
Action
Deliver targeted staff training and share case learning on testing, abnormal-result response and escalation to medical or diabetes teams.
Stated by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
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Action
Develop and introduce connected blood-glucose and ketone meters with real-time dashboard escalation, replacing existing meters and training staff.
Stated by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to escalate to medical care or refer
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 act on NEWS observations and escalate deteriorating patients
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.
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
Expand the Critical Care Outreach service to support immediate escalation from electronic NEWS scores.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Delays in seeking medical attention when service users deteriorate
This report raised 8 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 and develop training to help staff recognise deterioration, question medical professionals, and identify triggers for seeking further advice.
Stated by Persona Care And Support Limited
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
Monitoring of unwell service users is limited to what is appropriate for Elmhurst’s social-care registration and staff’s non-medical qualifications.
Stated by Persona Care And Support Limited
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Concerns raised1
Failure to obtain appropriate specialist assistance for hyponatraemia management
This report raised 9 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
Classify desmopressin as a high-risk drug requiring specialist advice before discontinuation and a plan for reintroduction.
Stated by Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to escalate deteriorating patients for medical review
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.
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
Develop deteriorating-patient protocols tailored to each young person’s care needs.
Stated by EAM Caregroup -
Action
Establish escalation of family, carer or professional concerns to primary care, out-of-hours services or paramedics regardless of nursing observations.
Stated by EAM Caregroup -
Action
Implement an updated When to Seek Medical Advice policy, requiring staff acknowledgement and signatures and addressing family concerns.
Stated by EAM Caregroup
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Action
Update the hospital admission and discharge policy to include When to Seek Medical Advice guidance.
Stated by EAM Caregroup
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Concerns raised3
Failure to seek medical assistance when insulin is refused over an extended period
Failure to seek urgent GP attention during attendance at the home
Failure to recognise and seek help for a deteriorating condition
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.3
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Action
Prioritise diabetes care planning, including instructions for seeking medical assistance when insulin or medication is refused.
Stated by Adbolton Hall Limited -
Action
Meet with the visiting GP to provide oversight of improvements and establish direct notification of future concerns.
Stated by Adbolton Hall Limited -
Action
Deliver Nutrition and Diabetes Management Training to nursing home staff.
Stated by Adbolton Hall Limited
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
Diabetes care is considered adequately assessed and provided because relevant authorities were satisfied the home’s complex-needs admissions were safe.
Stated by Adbolton Hall Limited
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Concerns raised2
Failure to seek medical assistance following seizures
Failure to seek and communicate appropriate medical follow-up for deteriorating residents
This report raised 11 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.1
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Position
Medical advice was sought appropriately, and no urgent referral was recommended or documented by the out-of-hours doctor.
Stated by Southwinds Limited
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Concerns raised1
Failure to escalate documented inability to weight-bear to the GP or ambulance service
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
Raise requests for medical-professional support immediately when residents’ needs require it.
Stated by SCOSA LIMITED T/A ROSEWOOD LODGE RETIREMENT HOME
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Concerns raised1
Failure to obtain medical review after head injury
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
Introduce a formal trust-wide policy for managing head injury in patients and staff.
Stated by Barts Health NHS Trust
Data last updated 7 September 2026