Recurring concern

Unreliable admission assessment of patients

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First reported 30 Jul 2013•Latest report 27 May 2026

Definition

What this concern includes

Includes failures of the admission or immediate receiving-assessment process, including omitted or delayed assessment, failure to complete required assessment components, failure to reconcile relevant pre-admission information, and failure to make necessary clinical information available to admission clinicians.

Not included

  • Excludes failures limited to maintaining or retrieving clinical records when no admission-assessment impact is identified.
  • Excludes pre-discharge, post-discharge, outpatient or routine ongoing assessments that are not part of admission or immediate receiving assessment.
  • Excludes condition-specific assessment pathways, such as VTE, bowel-obstruction or mental-health assessment, when that named pathway supplies the more specific supported concern.
  • Excludes failures occurring after an adequate admission assessment where the problem is subsequent monitoring, treatment, escalation or care planning.
Reports
27

Distinct published reports

Individual concerns
28

A report can raise multiple concerns

Date range
2013–2026

First to latest report issue date

Stated actions
18

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.

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust3
Department of Health and Social Care2
Royal Sussex County Hospital2
Avery Healthcare Group1
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust1
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust1
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Local Health Board1
Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust1
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust1
Devon Partnership NHS Trust1
East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust1
Elvy Court Care Home1
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust1
Herries Lodge1

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.

  1. Cumbria

    AI-generated summary

    Allan Arthur Watt · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Allan Arthur Watt became increasingly unwell over several months and was ultimately admitted with an inoperable ischaemic bowel; he died on 20 September 2019. Concerns included delays in medical assessment after admission and a further delay before he received intravenous fluids and antibiotics. The report states that these delays may have denied him any chance of survival, although he may already have been too ill to survive on arrival.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Delays in doctor-led admission clerking

    Wider context from the report

    “[BRIEF SUMMARY OF MATTERS OF CONCERN] (1) Mr Watt arrived at A&E at 8pm, he was seen within an hour by a nurse practitioner and admission arranged. However after he got onto the ward at 2am he did not see a doctor to be clerked in until 10.30. Both Allan’s family and I as coroner felt this delay was unacceptable. (2)After Allan had been clerked in and IV fluid and antibiotic advised he did not receive an IV line or a first dose of antibiotic until 3pm –it was now 19 hours after he had arrived in A&E and in that period he had received no fluid or drug treatment. (3)Allan died at 18.45, evidence suggested that he may have been too ill to survive even at the time he arrived in the A&E department but I have no doubt that the want of timely assessment and treatment denied him any chance at all. It is my hope that attention to these concerns will indeed prevent future deaths at your hospital. ”

    Source location

    Allan Arthur Watt · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
  2. South Yorkshire (West)

    AI-generated summary

    Joan Howard · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Joan Howard was admitted to hospital on 4 April 2019 with specialist dietary requirements and choked to death on 10 April 2019 after being given a sandwich that should not have been provided. The report identified failures to follow dietary guidance and hospital processes, act on information from her care home, provide appropriate fluids, and escalate concerns about inappropriate food. It found that neglect had contributed to her death.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to act on available nutritional requirements advice at admission

    Wider context from the report

    “b) The care home from which Joan was admitted had provided appropriate advice about her nutritional requirements which was available to the hospital upon admission but which was not acted upon. ”

    Source location

    Joan Howard · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Record IDDSI eating, drinking, texture and fluid requirements on the Electronic Whiteboard and populate multidisciplinary handover sheets.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Work has now been completed to incorporate the national IDDSI descriptors into the Electronic Whiteboard (EWB). This work had already been planned, but was expedited as a result of this incident. As a consequence, patients’ eating and drinking requirements, food texture and fluid consistency are now recorded on EWB. This is a visible prompt to all ward staff (not just nurses) about the patient’s individual requirements. This information then automatically populates the multi-disciplinary handover sheet that is printed from the EWB for ward staff to refer to. The EWB is recognised as a prime Multi-Disciplinary Team handover and effective communication tool within the Trust.”

    Source location

    2021-0007-Response-from-Sheffield-Teaching-Hospitals-NHS-Foundation-Trust_Redacted
    Page 4 · response
    Published 14 January 2021

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Provide wards with IDDSI diet signage and related patient information forms, including visible IDDSI level descriptions.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “For those patients who are admitted to hospital already requiring texture modified diets in the community, the ward teams can now record the information straight onto the EWB and the correct diet signage can be placed above the patient’s bed immediately. The SOP prompts staff to ensure that swallowing assessment detail is placed above the patient’s bed, and wards will now be provided with a supply of signage and related patient information forms so that temporary signage will not be required. Signage is also available to order through the Xerox ‘print on demand’ service and can be downloaded from the Trust intranet site. Signage now also includes a description of the IDDSI levels alongside the level of diet the patient is on, so that this information is clearly visible and easily accessible for staff ‘at a glance’.”

    Source location

    2021-0007-Response-from-Sheffield-Teaching-Hospitals-NHS-Foundation-Trust_Redacted
    Page 4 · response
    Published 14 January 2021

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    COVID-19 operational pressures prevent implementing all planned safety changes in the near future.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Having outlined the actions we have agreed to take in response to this incident and to the PFD Report, I hope that I have been able to convey how seriously we have viewed this matter. Whilst we will be unable to implement all these changes in the near future, given the urgency of the situation in relation to COVID-19, we are absolutely committed to learning from Mrs Howard’s death and implementing the remaining actions at the earliest opportunity.”

    Source location

    2021-0007-Response-from-Sheffield-Teaching-Hospitals-NHS-Foundation-Trust_Redacted
    Page 4 · response
    Published 14 January 2021

    Open published response
  3. Manchester South

    AI-generated summary

    Mary Jones · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Mary Jones had an accidental unwitnessed fall, was treated surgically and transferred for rehabilitation, and died on 3 March 2019 after developing acute pneumonia alongside congestive heart failure and acute kidney injury. Concerns included an out-of-hours transfer and admission, delayed falls-risk assessment, poor fluid-chart documentation, loss of records during an IT merger, absent or untraceable nutrition-related referrals, and no clear clinical review of fluid-chart outcomes.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Clerking and risk assessment of frail elderly transfer patients out of hours

    Wider context from the report

    “1. Mary Jones was a frail elderly lady who was moved from the MRI to Trafford General post-operatively for rehabilitation under the Trust structure. It was a planned transfer. However due to limited transport availability she arrived at Trafford General out of hours after waiting for transfer. As a result she was clerked in and risk assessed out of hours despite the recognised risks of moving frail elderly patients out of hours. The inquest was told that this is not uncommon as transfers such as these are made via ambulance and are a low priority and moved where needed; ”

    Source location

    Mary Jones · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
  4. Preston and West Lancashire

    AI-generated summary

    Michael John NEWELL · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Michael John Newell died following an admission involving haemorrhage, decompensated liver failure and associated coagulopathy. Concerns included a lack of awareness among emergency and surgical staff of the significance of his liver failure, inadequate recognition and treatment of hypovolaemia, lack of consultant ENT input, weaknesses in the mortality review process, and nursing documentation and management issues.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Lack of knowledge of the clinical effects of substantial hepatic compromise during haemorrhagic admission

    Wider context from the report

    “(1) the Accident & Emergency staff, neurosurgeons and ENT surgeons of various grades were unaware of the substantial effect that Mr Newell's decompensated liver failure would have on his clinical course and subsequent management. No input was sought from any medical team to assist in the management prior to Mr Newell's first collapse at 11:14 AM on 5 May 2014. This lack of awareness raises significant concerns about the knowledge base of Accident & Emergency and surgical junior staff of the significant effect of substantial underlying hepatic compromise may have on any form of admission with some form of haemorrhage. As a result, the family were completely unaware of the significance of Mr Newell's admission due to the lack of awareness by attending clinicians. ”

    Source location

    Michael John NEWELL · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report
  5. Exeter and Greater Devon

    AI-generated summary

    Matthew Llewellyn-Jones · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Matthew Llewellyn-Jones, who had been detained under section 2 of the Mental Health Act after becoming acutely unwell with psychosis, left a locked hospital ward unaccompanied and was later found hanging by a ligature in the hospital grounds. The concerns included breaches of the ward’s locked door, predictable observations, inadequate collection of information from family and carers, insufficient assessment and observation, inadequate staff induction, and staffing levels that contributed to failings in his care and security.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure of the admission recording system to make obtaining carer and family information mandatory

    Wider context from the report

    “(3) A new system of note recording has been introduced since this death, but it still does not make obtaining information from carers and/or family mandatory on admission. The importance of this information was readily acknowledged by the Trust in their internal inquiry and at inquest. The electronic recording system should be able to facilitate capturing such information with the use of mandatory fields to avoid this oversight and could assist the Trust in achieving their stated aims in this respect. ”

    Source location

    Matthew Llewellyn-Jones · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Use an active Care Notes care-planning field to record information sought from carers or family.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “A copy of the Care Notes forms are attached, the specific changes that have been made are-”

    Source location

    2016-0385-Response-by-Devon-Partnership-NHS-Trust
    Page 2 · response
    Published 25 October 2016

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Activate a Care Notes risk-assessment area recording carers’ and family members’ views.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “• Risk Assessment (Specific area looking at carer/family views) – this is due to become active by the end of January 2017 (ref 2.2)”

    Source location

    2016-0385-Response-by-Devon-Partnership-NHS-Trust
    Page 2 · response
    Published 25 October 2016

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    A mandatory field for carer and family information will not be added; free-text recording and audit follow-up are considered sufficient.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “The introduction of a mandatory field has been considered by the Care Notes team and senior clinical colleagues. The decision has been made not to add as a mandatory field, it will continue to be recorded as a ‘free text’ field. The rational for this decision is that a mandatory field could be completed with a generic comment for example ‘have been unable to contact family at this time’, when audited as detailed below, this would be identified as completed. If the field is left ‘blank’ the audit will highlight this and allow individual review and follow up with the staff member concerned.”

    Source location

    2016-0385-Response-by-Devon-Partnership-NHS-Trust
    Page 2 · response
    Published 25 October 2016

    Open published response
  6. South Yorkshire (Western)

    AI-generated summary

    Captain James Michael Bedford · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Captain James Michael Bedford, a senior long-haul airline pilot, developed a left-leg deep vein thrombosis and later collapsed after a flight from China. He suffered a pulmonary embolus and cerebral events, followed by an acute cerebral haemorrhage after treatment with heparin, and died on 30 June 2015. Concerns included differing hospital practices regarding lower-leg scanning for DVT and whether a full-leg scan at his first attendance might have provided an opportunity for treatment.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Clerking of acute patients by a medical student

    Wider context from the report

    “4. An expert witness (an ED physician) was critical of the placement in AMU and clerking in by a medical student although it is not suggested this of itself made a difference as to survival. ”

    Source location

    Captain James Michael Bedford · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 3 · concerns

    Open source report
  7. Blackpool and the Fylde

    AI-generated summary

    Barry THOMPSON · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Barry Thompson, an insulin-dependent diabetic, died on 27 February 2016 while a patient on the Acute Medical Unit, after being admitted with sepsis from diabetic foot ulcers and hyperglycaemia. The report identified concerns about failure to provide insulin, fluids, adequate monitoring, antibiotics and medical review, as well as inaccurate and incomplete records and ineffective information sharing during transfer between departments.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to assess the significance of patients’ existing comorbidity medication

    Wider context from the report

    “(3) Monitoring patients’ basic needs. There was difficulty encountered giving Mr Thompson saline by way of a drip. He was given an infusion of 1 litre over 4 hours at 17.30. At 23.00 it was found that the original cannula had become detached but the remaining fluid in the sac was 700mls. Mr Thompson’s bed was wet with saline fluid. He did not therefore receive the intended dose. He was not given a further injection of antibiotics 6 hours after the first nor was he written up for it. He was not given insulin. He does not appear to have been given any food whilst a patient or adequate fluid balance charts maintained. He was not seen by a doctor on the AMU. He was on a range of medication on admission to hospital for co-morbidities. The importance of this or otherwise was not assessed by staff. ”

    Source location

    Barry THOMPSON · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
  8. Manchester South

    AI-generated summary

    David Michael little · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    David Michael Little was admitted to hospital with abdominal pain and a suspected small-bowel mass. His condition worsened, and a scan revealed a blockage caused by ischaemic bowel; delays in scanning, reporting, and insertion of an NG tube meant that surgery was considered when it was deemed too late. The report raised concerns about poor record-keeping, lack of a clear diagnostic and monitoring pathway, failure to recognise the seriousness of bowel obstruction, and poor communication among staff and with the family.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Lack of a clear diagnostic pathway and monitoring plan on admission

    Wider context from the report

    “2. The hospital had no clear diagnostic pathway or monitoring plan on admission, the staff appeared not to be trained to recognise the symptoms of a blocked bowel nor the potential seriousness thereof nor to be aware of the dire consequences of failure to diagnose and treat appropriately. ”

    Source location

    David Michael little · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Establish and ratify a small bowel obstruction surgical pathway covering diagnostic priorities and monitoring for this patient group.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “The Trust has devised a small bowel obstruction surgical pathway (Document 3 attached) which now describes the pathway and monitoring plan for this patient group. Learning undertaken following Mr Little’s death has been incorporated into this pathway. It has been agreed by the surgical, nursing and clinical teams and will be ratified as described in the document, through the governance forums in General Surgery, Radiology, Urgent Care & Critical Care before being signed off at Trust level by the end of September.”

    Source location

    2016-0237-Response-by-Tameside-Hospital-NHS-Trust
    Page 2 · response
    Published 28 June 2016

    Open published response
  9. Avon

    AI-generated summary

    Simon Peter REYNOLDS · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Simon Peter REYNOLDS was admitted to Mason Unit at Southmead Hospital on 10 November 2014 after being detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act. While left alone in his room, he forced a fist-sized ball of paper into his throat, causing him to choke; he later died in hospital on 21 November 2014. Concerns included the absence of a documented admission risk assessment, no computerised admission note by the nurse in charge, and the need to consider guidance or training on observation levels, suicide and self-harm risk assessment, risk management, and communication of risk.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Lack of documented risk assessments at admission onto Mason Unit

    Wider context from the report

    “(1) I heard evidence that there is no documented risk assessment produced at the time of a service user's admission onto Mason Unit. I would ask that you review whether this is still appropriate. ”

    Source location

    Simon Peter REYNOLDS · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
  10. Powys, Bridgend & Glamorgan Valleys

    AI-generated summary

    Mr. Brian Francis · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Mr. Brian Francis was admitted to Princess of Wales Hospital on 5 September 2014 after several days of illness and was treated for presumed chest sepsis. He died of a pulmonary embolism the following day. Concerns included a failed process for recording Consultant attendance and the unavailability of Community medical records, which may have affected assessment and the commencement of anti-coagulation therapy.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Unavailability of Community medical records at hospital admission

    Wider context from the report

    “(2) Had the Community medical records been available at the time of hospital admission the patient would most probably have been assessed differently and in all probability, anti-coagulation therapy commenced immediately or shortly thereafter. ”

    Source location

    Mr. Brian Francis · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Electronic community health records cannot be provided locally until national pilot studies are completed and the service is extended to hospital emergency settings.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “A summary of the GP record is currently available in out-of-hours GP services. This national service is currently being extended for use in hospital emergency settings. Pilot projects are already underway in Cardiff and the Vale and Aneurin Bevan Health Boards and our Health Board has already indicated our eagerness to provide this service locally as soon as the pilot studies have been completed.”

    Source location

    2015-0085-Response-by-University-Health-Board
    Page 3 · response
    Published 4 March 2015

    Open published response
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Data last updated 7 September 2026