Recurring concern
Insufficient staffing capacity for required one-to-one patient support
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Request correctionFirst reported 21 Apr 2015•Latest report 24 Apr 2026
What this concern includes
Includes deficiencies in staffing levels, cover, deployment or contingency capacity that leave patients assessed as requiring one-to-one support without that support, including failures affecting one-to-one observation, therapeutic talk time or equivalent dedicated patient assistance.
Not included
- Excludes general staffing shortages where no requirement for one-to-one patient support is identified.
- Excludes failures in the quality, planning or delivery of one-to-one care where staffing capacity is not the shared unsafe condition.
- Excludes generic patient observation or supervision failures that do not involve a staffing-capacity deficiency for required one-to-one support.
- Excludes staffing deficiencies in care homes, maternity services, prisons or other settings unless they directly leave patients without required one-to-one support.
- Reports
- 9
- Individual concerns
- 10
- Date range
- 2015–2026
- Stated actions
- 8
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 provide required one-to-one nursing care
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
Publish a new 10 Year Workforce Plan to support appropriate NHS staffing and workforce distribution.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
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
Individual NHS trusts and employers are responsible for determining staffing levels and workforce composition.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient staffing capacity on mental health wards
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.
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
Streamline Matron attendance at Safe Care and Sit-Rep meetings while maintaining ward staffing and clinical-quality oversight.
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.2
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Position
MHOST establishments, daily staffing reviews and escalation arrangements are considered sufficient to meet ward clinical demands and address staffing shortfalls.
Stated by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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Position
Responsibility for local mental health staffing and operations lies with the relevant trust, not the Government.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient ward staffing for required one-to-one patient support
This report raised 18 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
Recruit and retain inpatient staff to bring staffing within safe limits across clinical disciplines.
Stated by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Increase therapeutic inpatient activities, including one-to-one time, exercise, fitness and arts and crafts, through a quality improvement project.
Stated by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Shortage of staff for required patient care tasks
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 raised2
Unavailability of additional nursing cover for one-to-one support
Inadequate ward staffing levels for safely caring for patients
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
Establish daily staffing monitoring that identifies patients requiring enhanced observation, includes out-of-hours handover, and checks Nurse Bank availability.
Stated by Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient ward staffing to manage care demands
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.3
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Action
Restrict staff assigned to specialling to duties that do not take them away from providing specialling.
Stated by Cardiff & Vale University LHB -
Action
Benchmark enhanced observational care against other organisations across Wales and England.
Stated by Cardiff & Vale University LHB -
Action
Carry out the Specialling of Patients project in Medicine Clinical Board wards.
Stated by Cardiff & Vale University LHB
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Concerns raised1
Inadequate staffing levels for one-to-one care in inpatient CAMHS units
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.
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
Existing staffing reviews, multidisciplinary support, on-call arrangements and staff redeployment are considered sufficient to determine appropriate staffing levels.
Stated by Priory Group
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Position
Existing staffing guidance, continual staffing reviews, multidisciplinary support and escalation arrangements are considered sufficient to determine appropriate staffing levels.
Stated by Priory Group
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient cover for required 1:1 patient care
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
Insufficient staffing for required one-to-one nursing observation of patients at high risk of falls
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.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Data last updated 7 September 2026