Recurring concern
Failure to complete timely direct mental health assessments after referral
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Request correctionFirst reported 24 Nov 2014•Latest report 25 Mar 2024
What this concern includes
Includes failure or material delay in arranging, contacting for, undertaking or completing a referred full, specialist or psychiatric assessment, including rejection or closure without required direct assessment.
Not included
- Deficient assessment content after the referred assessment was completed unless non-completion is also identified.
- Post-discharge or post-acceptance follow-up where no referred assessment remains incomplete.
- General referral or service-access delay where completion of the referred mental health assessment is not the unsafe condition.
- Reports
- 12
- Individual concerns
- 13
- Date range
- 2014–2024
- Stated actions
- 21
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
Delays in arranging assessments for people requiring an immediate response
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.3
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Action
Provide capital investment for urgent and emergency mental health infrastructure, including crisis services, emergency departments and crisis lines.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care -
Action
Fund the national rollout of specialised mental health ambulances supported by practitioners trained in co-occurring physical and mental health needs.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care -
Action
Operate one generic CRHTT email address with a defined process for qualified practitioners to check and action messages.
Stated by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Delays in specialist child mental health assessment
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.2
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Action
Expand and strengthen the NHS mental health workforce, including adding 27,000 mental health professionals by 2023/24.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care -
Action
Work with NHS England on next steps following consultation on proposed mental health waiting-time standards.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
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Concerns raised1
Delays in providing psychiatrist appointments after assessment referrals
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.2
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Action
Approach NHS England and discuss seeking additional psychology and psychiatry resource for HMP Leeds.
Stated by Practice Plus Group Health And Rehabilitation Services Limited -
Action
Submit a business case to Commissioners for increased psychology and psychiatry provision at HMP Leeds.
Stated by Practice Plus Group Health And Rehabilitation Services Limited
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 stepped-care provision and multidisciplinary referral arrangements are considered sufficient to meet patients’ psychiatric needs at current levels.
Stated by Practice Plus Group Health And Rehabilitation Services Limited
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Position
Even if additional funding is approved, recruitment difficulties may prevent immediate increases in psychiatric provision.
Stated by Practice Plus Group Health And Rehabilitation Services Limited
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Concerns raised1
Delays in mental health assessment following referral
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.
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Concerns raised2
Lack of a process to triage referral acuity and expedite clinical assessments where necessary
Delays in arranging clinical assessments
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 attempt timely assessment after a high-risk patient re-establishes contact
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.2
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Action
Increase Home Treatment Team workforce capacity through additional managers, practitioners, medical staff, psychologists and administrative staff.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Review the Home Treatment Team operating protocol to strengthen nurse-led triage, assessment screening and escalation to consultant psychiatrists.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health 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
Care and treatment concerns are largely for provider organisations to resolve.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board
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Position
Local NHS agencies are expected to address the report’s local concerns.
Stated by NHS England
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Concerns raised1
Failure to notify relevant staff and patients of scheduled mental health assessments
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 provide timely face-to-face psychiatric assessment after worsened-condition referral
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.2
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Action
Require escalation of Home Treatment referrals not seen within 48 hours to a consultant psychiatrist or team manager for prioritised review.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Provide routine doctor review within 72 hours for Home Treatment referrals without prior professional assessment, with out-of-hours emergency review by on-call psychiatry.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Delays in psychiatric referral and assessment after initial assessment
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.
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
Review and implement AABIT standard operating procedures.
Stated by North East London NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Delays in contacting people referred for assessment despite identified risks
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.2
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Action
Review Duty Operational Instructions to incorporate risk information into decisions about when referred people receive initial contact.
Stated by Norfolk County Council -
Action
Review guidance for prioritising referrals, including how individual risks are identified and assessed.
Stated by Norfolk County Council
Data last updated 7 September 2026