Unreliable handover of care information and responsibility
First to latest report 17 Jan 2014 — 26 Jun 2026
Reports that mention this concern
45
Times this concern has been raised
48
Stated actions linked to this concern
77
What this concern includes
Includes failures in the dedicated handover process for care information or responsibility, including absent or unclear procedures, incomplete or unauditable handover records, failure to transfer relevant information, and unclear or uncompleted handovers between care staff, managers, coordinators or successor services.
What is not included
Excludes clinical handovers between healthcare professionals where the existing clinical-handover concern is the more specific supported boundary.
Excludes failures of discharge, inter-service transfer or general continuity processes where no care-handover deficiency is identified.
Excludes generic communication, staffing, documentation or training deficiencies unless they directly impair the transfer of care information or responsibility during handover.
Excludes non-care operational handovers, such as fire-and-rescue incident roles or general workplace shifts, unless the assertion concerns transfer of responsibility for care.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, 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.
Department of Health and Social Care3
Care Quality Commission2
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust2
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust2
HM Prison and Probation Service2
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence2
Son of the deceased2
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust2
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust2
Arden Court1
Bank Close House1
Barts Health NHS Trust1
Bedford Prison1
Belle Green Court1
Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB1
NHS trust28
Private limited company6
Healthcare site4
Prison or young offender institution4
Type not available4
Domiciliary care provider3
Executive non-departmental public body3
Ministerial department3
Nursing home3
Executive agency2
Health and social care service regulator2
Independent healthcare provider2
Local health board2
Residential care home2
Community interest company1
Reports and published responses 45 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
Worcestershire
Concerns raised1
Inadequate highlighting of particular patients' needs during handover
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Use a standardized SBAR structure for clinical handovers across the hospital.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
The existing SBAR handover structure and ward board rounds are considered robust arrangements for transferring clinical information.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Inner South London
Concerns raised1
Failure to hand over urgent investigation needs to the responsible doctor
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
King'S College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
King'S College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Send formal discharge notifications to GPs after self-discharge, including relevant tests, assessments and follow-up arrangements.
King'S College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Establish Consultant-led virtual reviews of patients self-discharged during the take period to confirm investigations and follow-up are arranged.
King'S College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Develop a Trust-wide best-practice guide for discharge notifications and clinic letters, including self-discharge requirements, with local CCG collaboration.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
King'S College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
The concerns raised did not cause or contribute to the death, and the inquest found no failures of care contributed to it.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
King'S College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Follow-up of proposed investigations is the responsibility of the team that ordered them, with the ordering team responsible for ensuring follow-up.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
King'S College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
After self-discharge, ongoing care was assessed as transferring to the GSTT Palliative Care team, although MRI management would not ordinarily be its responsibility.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
South Wales Central
Concerns raised1
Lack of comprehensive transfer handover of falls risk
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Blackpool and the Fylde
Concerns raised1
Failure of the three-tier system to transfer key patient information quickly
This report raised 9 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Failure to hand over patients’ individual needs from hospital to the ward
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
North Wales (East and Central)
Concerns raised1
Failure to provide the Transfer of Care Form to escorting police for immediate availability to the custody nurse
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Failure to communicate patients' care needs during ward transfers
This report raised 18 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Integrate the fractured-neck-of-femur service at Princess Royal Hospital to provide continuity and avoid cross-site communication failures.
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Educate ward nurses on patient moves, site-manager information requirements and transfer documentation.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Failure to pass relevant care information to successor staff
This report raised 11 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Sunrise Senior Living UK
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Sunrise Senior Living UK
Complete a full review of care documentation to improve continuity of information when care plans are updated.
Preston and West Lancashire
Concerns raised1
Failure to routinely hand over ambulance-obtained ECG traces to A&E staff
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Failure to communicate pending physiotherapy assessment information
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.