Recurring concern
Unreliable hospital discharge processes
First reported 30 Jan 2013•Latest report 10 Jun 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures in hospital discharge planning, readiness decisions, multidisciplinary or receiving-service coordination, safety planning, execution and directly required follow-up.
Not included
- Inter-hospital patient transfer where no discharge from hospital care occurs
- Failures in treatment after a safe and complete discharge
- Generic care coordination unrelated to a hospital discharge process
- Delays in admission or movement within hospital before discharge is being planned
- Reports
- 273
- Individual concerns
- 406
- Date range
- 2013–2026
- Stated actions
- 524
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 verify the most recent clinical observations and PEWS score before discharge
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.3
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Action
Implement and use a two-hourly Paediatric SITREP to record, escalate and plan responses to staff concerns despite low PEWS.
Stated by Barts Health NHS Trust -
Action
Provide ongoing teaching on paediatric gastroenteritis risks, deterioration despite low PEWS and communicating concerns.
Stated by Barts Health NHS Trust -
Action
Auto-populate the latest clinical observations and blood results in records when clinicians make entries before discharge decisions.
Stated by Barts Health NHS Trust
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Concerns raised1
Lack of specific guidance for expediting discharge and considering alternative treatment methods for high-risk patients
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.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
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Position
Existing NHS, NICE and UKHSA guidance was considered sufficient to address COVID-19 infection prevention and expedited discharge concerns.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
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Position
CQC considered Trust assurances and ongoing monitoring sufficient, so it identified no need for further investigation of this specific case.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care -
Position
The Trust's existing vulnerable-patient risk-management process, shared learning and discharge focus were considered sufficient responsive arrangements.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
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Concerns raised1
Lack of specific guidance for expediting discharge of patients at high risk of acquiring Covid-19
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
Failure to await blood test results before discharge
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
Incorporate proactive blood-result review into postgraduate induction training and disseminate the requirement to postgraduate staff.
Stated by the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust -
Action
Use the ED clerking form’s investigations-and-results section to document blood-result review before discharge.
Stated by the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust -
Action
Allocate consultant work-plan time to review blood results in the ICE system within 24 hours.
Stated by the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
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Action
Review and include the discharge blood-result process in ED policy and guidance.
Stated by the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to consider and act on dangerously elevated creatinine results before discharge
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.4
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Action
Pilot a dedicated process for immediate VBG result sign-off, clinician review, ECG signing and resulting actions.
Stated by Barts Health NHS Trust -
Action
Evaluate the VBG process and additional resources using quality improvement methodology.
Stated by Barts Health NHS Trust -
Action
Examine whether electronic patient records can track VBGs and provide an audit trail and completion alert.
Stated by Barts Health NHS Trust
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Action
Brief staff to perform three safety checks of results at availability, referral or movement to SDEC, and discharge.
Stated by Barts Health NHS Trust
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Concerns raised4
Failure of collaborative working across organisations during hospital discharge
Failure to include relevant community care organisations in multidisciplinary discharge planning
Failure to ensure discharge accommodation is suitable for complex medical needs
Failure to notify relevant clinical professionals of patient discharges
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
Lack of clarity in multi-disciplinary team decision-making about discharge
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
Failure to define and identify carer breakdown before discharge
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 ensure safe discharge of patients requiring administered Depot antipsychotic medication
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.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient discharge advice for potentially time-critical complaints
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.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Data last updated 7 September 2026