Recurring concern
Unreliable recording of safety-critical mental health information
First reported 18 Aug 2014•Latest report 27 May 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures in mental health or related care processes to accurately record, update or retain clinically or safety-relevant mental health information, including risk history, significant concerns, care-relevant objections and other information needed by staff making later decisions.
Not included
- Excludes generic clinical or care record deficiencies where the information is not specifically mental health or mental-health-risk information.
- Excludes failures to communicate or share accurately recorded information where the recording process itself was reliable.
- Excludes failures in mental health assessment, treatment, referral or follow-up where no deficiency in recording safety-critical mental health information is identified.
- Excludes routine administrative information and non-safety-relevant mental health notes.
- Reports
- 51
- Individual concerns
- 54
- Date range
- 2014–2026
- Stated actions
- 61
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 raised2
Lack of a documented LDS mental health plan for custody
Lack of formal police documentation of family concerns about mental health deterioration
This report raised 10 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
Complete and regularly review detainee risk assessments and care plans, recording changing physical or mental health information and responding to identified risks.
Stated by Sussex Police -
Action
Record custody risks and concerns discussed with Liaison and Diversion staff on the detainee’s risk assessment and care plan.
Stated by Sussex Police -
Action
Add information received from detainees’ families to the custody care plan so concerns are formally recorded and addressed.
Stated by Sussex Police
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
Police Custody Healthcare services are responsible for developing and delivering mental health care plans for detainees in crisis.
Stated by NHS England
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Position
The NPCC is unable to comment on the mental health plan referred to in the case.
Stated by National Police Chiefs’ Council
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Concerns raised1
Failure to record critical suicide risk information completely and promptly
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.1
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Action
Review and revise Psychiatric Decisions Unit handover standards to require urgent information to be documented and communicated before transport, discharge and other significant decisions.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to document MDT meeting decision making and risk downgrading rationale
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.3
-
Action
Implement the revised MDT template and pre-MDT referral process to clarify referrals and capture clinical information, decisions, actions and owners.
Stated by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust -
Action
Include a senior nurse clinician, medical colleagues and crisis-service members in MDT meetings to oversee and support the process.
Stated by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust -
Action
Conduct monthly audits of MDT processes and documentation, share feedback with staff, review outcomes through quality governance, and undertake additional six-month senior scrutiny.
Stated by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
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Concerns raised2
Delays in recording family-provided clinical timelines
Inaccurate or incomplete discharge summaries failing to record diagnostic uncertainty
This report raised 9 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
-
Position
The Integrated Care Board is expected to respond to concerns about the specific care provided.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
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Concerns raised1
Failure to record the reason for a missed appointment and whether an assessment was undertaken
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
The Trust disputes that a cancelled appointment lacked rationale and says assessment remained within the applicable 18-week timeframe.
Stated by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to record s.12 doctors’ assessment outcomes when patients are not admitted
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.
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
Amend the AMHP assessment form to capture consultation views, reasons for non-consultation, earlier analysis, and doctors' individual views and detention-criteria conclusions.
Stated by Swansea Council -
Action
Discuss with the Health Board the requirement for doctors to record their views and conclusions on the AMHP assessment form.
Stated by Swansea Council
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
-
Position
Some matters raised in the report fall outside the Council’s remit, so it will not respond to them.
Stated by Swansea Council
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Position
SBUHB and NHS Wales must primarily address concerns about Section 12 doctors’ records access and assessment recording.
Stated by Swansea Council -
Position
Operational responses to the concerns are assigned to the health board and local authority, while Welsh Ministers set the policy and strategic framework.
Stated by Welsh Government
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Concerns raised1
Failure to record suicidal ideation identified during emergency department care
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.
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
Update Emergency Department digital triage to ask all patients about mental health or self-harm within 15 minutes of arrival.
Stated by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Store Emergency Department triage and mental health assessment forms electronically in the patient record, with Psychiatric Liaison access.
Stated by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to record recent suicide attempts in screening MDT notes
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.
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 securely store and share Queen Alexandra Hospital mental health records
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.
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.4
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Action
Replace paper-based clinical observation forms with electronic forms feeding directly into SystmOne, including tablet procurement and ward testing.
Stated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Locate mental health nursing records within the Enhanced Care Plan for patients awaiting mental health placement.
Stated by Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust -
Action
Provide temporary staff and partner mental health teams with electronic access to document assessments and care plans in Oceano.
Stated by Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
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Action
Work with the Integrated Care Board and regional acute trusts towards a paper-free electronic patient record.
Stated by Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
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Concerns raised1
Inadequate recording of patients' mental health history by CATT
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.1
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Action
Deploy enhanced documentation practices to support coordinated care.
Stated by West London NHS Trust
Data last updated 7 September 2026