Recurring concern
Unreliable confidentiality arrangements for sharing safety-critical welfare information
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Request correctionFirst reported 5 May 2013•Latest report 15 Jan 2020
What this concern includes
Includes failures in confidentiality guidance, decision-making or operational arrangements that prevent or delay receipt, acceptance or sharing of safety-critical welfare information between callers, families, healthcare services and emergency responders, where the information is needed to assess or protect a person at risk.
Not included
- Excludes ordinary confidentiality or consent concerns with no identified impact on safety-critical welfare information.
- Excludes generic communication, referral or information-sharing failures where confidentiality uncertainty is not the cause of the unsafe condition.
- Excludes clinical assessment, treatment or emergency response failures after the relevant welfare information has been reliably received and shared.
- Excludes disclosure processes involving courts, regulators, coroners or other recipients unless the asserted concern is the same safety-critical welfare-information confidentiality arrangement.
- Reports
- 5
- Individual concerns
- 5
- Date range
- 2013–2020
- Stated actions
- 5
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 recognise when patient confidentiality should be breached to notify family or friends about patient safety or welfare concerns
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.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Delays in accepting and passing on welfare concerns because of confidentiality uncertainty
This report raised 13 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 of the Listener Scheme protocol to specify an exception to confidentiality for imminent suicide risk
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.
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
Winchester will not add an exception to Listener confidentiality because national confidentiality arrangements are considered necessary to preserve prisoners’ trust.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
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Concerns raised1
GPs' interpretation of patient confidentiality preventing concerned family members from passing pertinent information about vulnerable persons at potential risk of suicide
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
Develop an advice sheet for GP practices on responding to third-party concerns and information-sharing requests.
Stated by NHS England Yorkshire and the Humber and NHS Wakefield Clinical Commissioning Group -
Action
Disseminate the advice sheet to GPs through Local Medical Committees in every district.
Stated by NHS England Yorkshire and the Humber and NHS Wakefield Clinical Commissioning Group -
Action
Include the advice sheet's guidance in safeguarding training offered to practices.
Stated by NHS England Yorkshire and the Humber and NHS Wakefield Clinical Commissioning Group
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Concerns raised1
Confusion about confidentiality when providing safety supervision for patients at risk of self-harm
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
Publish a consensus statement promoting information sharing to help prevent suicide, within the relevant law.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care -
Action
Publish supplementary guidance clarifying when confidential information may be disclosed in the public interest.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
Data last updated 7 September 2026