Recurring concern
Unreliable recording and involvement of prisoners’ next of kin
- Reports that mention this concern
- 2
- Times this concern has been raised
- 2
- Stated actions linked to this concern
- 2
What this concern includes
Includes failures in prison processes to obtain, verify, maintain or make accessible next-of-kin details, and failures to involve or communicate with next of kin about significant care, welfare, safety or other decisions where their involvement is appropriate, including the anchor’s missing process at HMP Guys Marsh and comparable failures involving inaccurate records, absent details, delayed communication or omitted involvement.
What is not included
- Excludes generic family communication, complaint handling or care-planning failures where next-of-kin identification or involvement is not the material unsafe condition.
- Excludes failures involving patients’ or residents’ families outside a prison or custody context unless the assertion explicitly supports the same next-of-kin process.
- Excludes failures to provide treatment, supervision or care where next-of-kin information and involvement were reliable.
- Excludes ordinary confidentiality or consent restrictions where they appropriately prevent disclosure or involvement.
- Excludes the existing narrower concern concerning usable family contact details where the assertion is limited to obtaining or retaining contact details and does not support the broader next-of-kin recording-and-involvement condition.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, 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.
Reports and published responses 2 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
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Concerns raised1
Failure to inform Next of Kin of a prisoner’s decision to refuse food or fluids
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
- HM Prison and Probation Service
- Practice Plus Group
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
HM Prison and Probation Service
Deliver awareness sessions to prison and healthcare staff on supporting prisoners who refuse food, including contact with next of kin.
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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Practice Plus Group
The food and fluid refusal pathway is considered robust and fit for purpose regardless of the reason for refusal.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of process for recording and involving prisoners’ next of kin
This report raised 16 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
- Department of Health and Social Care
- Guys Marsh Prison
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
Guys Marsh Prison
Establish a process for recording next-of-kin details and submitting them on NOMIS.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Department of Health and Social Care
Other report recipients are responsible for addressing prison healthcare guidance, ACCT operations and family engagement because these concern day-to-day prison operations.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Data last updated 7 September 2026