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
Lack of a clear directive for care staff to seek medical advice without delay for residents presenting with pain
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.
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 seek or consider medical attention following pain or a fall
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 changes in patient condition for timely medical assessment
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 of staff to recognise an un-recordable blood pressure as a medical emergency requiring a crash call
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.3
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Action
Pilot a revised observation and escalation process, with registered nurses observing patients requiring observations more frequently than every four hours.
Stated by The Trust -
Action
Emphasise Medical Emergency Team availability during mandatory basic life support training for all staff groups.
Stated by The Trust -
Action
Evaluate current nurse and doctor training on identifying deteriorating patients and develop an improvement proposal informed by cardiac-arrest learning.
Stated by The 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 cardiac-arrest protocols, medical-emergency procedures and mandatory training are considered sufficient arrangements for activating the appropriate response.
Stated by The Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to seek medical opinion for prolonged unconsciousness
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.6
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Action
Provide all staff with first-aid and life-support training focused on the immediate care of unconscious residents.
Stated by Springbank Care Home Limited -
Action
Assess nurses’ competency in recognising consciousness levels, providing and documenting life support, conducting neurological observations, and following relevant guidance.
Stated by Springbank Care Home Limited -
Action
Instruct staff to summon emergency services promptly for unconscious residents, follow valid DNNAR instructions, and use a protocol available to all staff.
Stated by Springbank Care Home Limited
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Action
Update residents’ risk assessments and care plans with specific information about causes of unconsciousness, including detailed epilepsy seizure types and recovery periods.
Stated by Springbank Care Home Limited -
Action
Provide the unconscious-person management protocol to occasional staff through agency induction materials.
Stated by Springbank Care Home Limited -
Action
Inform nurse agencies and provide their head offices with the unconscious-person management protocol.
Stated by Springbank Care Home Limited
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Concerns raised1
Failure to seek medical advice before administering anticoagulants despite known bleeding
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
Re-inform CHS healthcare professionals about medicines-management standards, communication responsibilities, relevant case learning, and the community medicines SOP through email cascades, briefings, meetings, and SOP reissue.
Stated by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust -
Action
Provide medicines-management and emotional-resilience training, monthly clinical supervision for six months, and reflective-practice assessment to strengthen the nurse’s clinical decision-making.
Stated by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
Data last updated 7 September 2026