Recurring concern
Failure to communicate safety-critical care information effectively between care providers and families
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Request correctionFirst reported 7 Jan 2014•Latest report 1 Jun 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures in provider-to-family or family-to-provider communication where the information concerns patient safety, clinical risks, care plans, deterioration, leave arrangements, incidents, complaints or other matters directly relevant to safe care.
Not included
- Excludes communication failures solely between professionals, services or departments when families are not a relevant party.
- Excludes generic failures of documentation, staffing, training or policy compliance unless they directly constitute or prevent communication of safety-critical information to or from families.
- Excludes routine information provision or dissatisfaction that is not tied to a meaningful public-safety concern.
- Excludes communication with patients, students, prisoners or other beneficiaries where families are not materially involved.
- Reports
- 70
- Individual concerns
- 74
- Date range
- 2014–2026
- Stated actions
- 94
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
Inadequate communication about prisoners’ health conditions
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.2
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Action
Implement Regional Multi Professional Complex Case Clinic escalation for the most complex patients.
Stated by Practice Plus Group Health And Rehabilitation Services Limited -
Action
Work with NHS England to clarify routine health-information sharing and processes for risk or safeguarding concerns.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
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
Practice Plus Group cannot resolve integration of healthcare and prison IT systems because SystmOne is commissioned by NHS England and medical records are confidential.
Stated by Practice Plus Group Health And Rehabilitation Services Limited
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Position
Existing information-sharing protocols and weekly meetings are considered appropriate for communication and management of complex safety concerns.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
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Concerns raised1
Failure to communicate the seriousness and potential mortality of a patient's condition to family
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.1
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Action
Promote and embed compassionate, inclusive communication with patients and their families.
Stated by Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to clearly communicate sensitising events and the required Anti-D action
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
Highlight the importance of giving RhD-positive mothers appropriate guidance, written information and advice on when to contact services.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
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Concerns raised1
Failure to educate relatives about the possibility of delirium
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 raised2
Inadequate communication between the ward and family
Failure to provide the family with the Section 17 leave form
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.4
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Action
Introduce the new Record of Patient Leaving Ward document across Trust wards and provide local staff training on its consistent use.
Stated by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Conduct a Trust-wide qualitative audit of inpatient records to assess care-plan completion and meaningful family or carer engagement, then present and monitor findings through the Effectiveness Committee.
Stated by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Audit monthly whether families participate in ward reviews or receive follow-up contact about the care plan when unable to attend.
Stated by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
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Action
Consider employing a Carers Lead to provide a primary point of contact for family members.
Stated by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to communicate clearly and ensure understanding of the whole situation
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
Share learning from the incident through existing departmental and Trust meetings.
Stated by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King'S Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Incorporate incident learning into the multidisciplinary PROMPT training day.
Stated by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King'S Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Deliver team training on unambiguous communication, human factors, informed consent and Montgomery-compliant language through 2023.
Stated by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King'S Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Superficiality of communication with the family
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.1
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Action
Use home-visit progress-note prompts and caseload audits to ensure regular family and carer feedback, involvement and offers of carer assessments.
Stated by The Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to properly communicate care plans with family members
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
Adjust multidisciplinary meetings to ensure regular consultant attendance and improve communication and care planning.
Stated by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure widespread understanding of the risks of fetal growth restriction
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 communicate patient-specific restricted items to families and friends before ward visits
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
Improve visitor and service-user communications about the ban on plastic bags through updated letters, external messaging and ward signage.
Stated by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Data last updated 7 September 2026