Recurring concern
Failure to reliably preserve handover records
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Request correctionFirst reported 23 Feb 2016•Latest report 14 Sep 2023
What this concern includes
Includes failures of controls specifically intended to retain, protect, preserve, retrieve or assure the availability of handover records across care settings and staff transitions, including overwritten or destroyed records and inadequate retention arrangements.
Not included
- Excludes failures in the content, completeness or communication of a handover where the handover record was reliably preserved.
- Excludes general clinical or care record-keeping deficiencies where handover records are not the material object.
- Excludes failures to transfer handover information between staff or services when the record-retention or preservation process is not deficient.
- Excludes records unrelated to handover, including supervision, incident, medical or administrative records unless the assertion explicitly concerns preserving the handover record.
- Reports
- 5
- Individual concerns
- 6
- Date range
- 2016–2023
- Stated actions
- 6
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 complete and store mental health unit handover records in SystmOne
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.3
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Action
Transfer inpatient handovers from Word documents to SystmOne and train staff in the new process.
Stated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Attend inpatient handovers, audit clinical records, and escalate audit outcomes through governance meetings to assure handover quality and accuracy.
Stated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust -
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 raised2
Delayed managerial detection of missing handover records
Failure to preserve handover records
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
Preserve handover records through electronic monthly files, printed management-office copies, archiving and monthly completeness checks.
Stated by Exemplar Health Care
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 management oversight, quality assurance and governance processes are considered sufficient to ensure records are kept, retained and reviewed for trends.
Stated by Exemplar Health Care
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Position
Electronic storage, printed copies and monthly checks ensure handovers cannot be overwritten and remain accessible.
Stated by Exemplar Health Care
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Concerns raised1
Failure to preserve handover records
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 raised1
Failure to retain shift hand-over sheets
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
Consider introducing electronic archiving of ward and departmental handover sheets.
Stated by Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
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
Paper handover sheets are not archived because confidentiality and maintaining reliance on the current sheet create practical constraints, although electronic archiving may be introduced.
Stated by Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to retain ward handover sheets for reference
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.1
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Action
Provide electronic handover access across Medicine Business Group wards, enabling retrospective access to patient handover information.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
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
Electronic handover records can be accessed retrospectively, so retaining shredded paper handover sheets is unnecessary and risks confidentiality and outdated information.
Stated by Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Data last updated 7 September 2026