Recurring concern
Failure to provide required medication promptly when clinically needed
First reported 4 Sep 2013•Latest report 17 Jun 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures in the medication-provision process that delay or prevent clinically required medication from being prescribed, processed, dispensed or administered when needed, including delayed usual medication after admission and delayed urgent therapeutic medication.
Not included
- Excludes long-term medication review, medication reconciliation, dosage verification and medication administration concerns when timely provision of required medication is not the shared unsafe condition.
- Excludes failures limited to medication continuity across care transitions where the issue is maintaining uninterrupted access rather than promptly initiating or providing medication when clinically needed.
- Excludes medication shortages, prescribing inappropriateness or monitoring failures that do not directly cause delayed or absent provision of clinically required medication.
- Excludes generic staffing, communication, documentation or electronic-system deficiencies unless they directly result in delayed or absent provision of the required medication.
- Reports
- 32
- Individual concerns
- 34
- Date range
- 2013–2026
- Stated actions
- 51
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
Unavailability of prescribed drugs in the A&E department
This report raised 7 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
Stock ertapenem in the Emergency Department to prevent treatment delays.
Stated by the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust -
Action
Review Emergency Department trolleys and assess a trial trolley containing equipment, antibiotics and fluids for immediate sepsis care.
Stated by the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure availability and administration of prescribed medication
This report raised 12 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 ensure functioning delivery of patient-controlled analgesia
This report raised 7 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
Provide ongoing training to all nursing staff on using patient-controlled analgesia machines.
Stated by Barts Health NHS Trust
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Concerns raised2
Delays in providing pain relief after hospital arrival
Failure to provide analgesia at discharge
This report raised 16 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 administering antibiotics after knee aspiration
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 raised1
Delays in administering prescribed antibiotics
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.
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
The patient did not receive Teicoplanin during this admission; oral Doxycycline followed the subsequent knee washout.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
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Position
Intravenous antibiotics were not indicated during the 48-hour period because the patient was clinically well and revision surgery was not planned.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to provide patients with 24-hour access to required medication
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
Review the existing Accident and Emergency stock list of over-labelled and pre-packed medicines.
Stated by Bolton NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Advertise Pharmacy opening hours and the process for obtaining medicines outside normal hours to Accident and Emergency staff.
Stated by Bolton NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Issue a memorandum to all wards and departments about supplying medicines outside normal hours.
Stated by Bolton 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
The Trust disputes that patients lack 24-hour access to required medicines.
Stated by Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
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Position
Existing medicines policies, stocks, emergency supplies and on-call pharmacist arrangements ensure medication is available at all times.
Stated by Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to prescribe and administer prescribed Sertraline
This report raised 24 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 provide prescribed analgesia when required
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
Failure to administer prescribed medication
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.
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
Provide additional training and competency assessment to the senior carer involved in the incident.
Stated by Hc-One Limited
Data last updated 7 September 2026