Recurring concern
Unreliable recording of fluid balance information
First reported 6 Nov 2013•Latest report 22 Dec 2025
What this concern includes
Includes failures of the dedicated fluid-balance recording process, including records of intravenous fluids, fluid intake and output, and food or fluid offers and consumption, where the recording deficiency impairs reliable assessment of fluid status.
Not included
- Excludes failures to administer prescribed fluids when the recording process itself is not deficient.
- Excludes general poor maintenance of clinical or nursing records unrelated to fluid balance.
- Excludes failures in fluid-balance assessment, escalation or treatment decisions unless they also involve unreliable fluid-balance recording.
- Reports
- 46
- Individual concerns
- 50
- Date range
- 2013–2025
- Stated actions
- 87
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
Poor completion of fluid balance charts
This report raised 14 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
Lack of effective, reliable recording of intravenous fluids administered in the emergency department
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
Implement a short-infusion electronic fluid order that remains visible until administration or discharge.
Stated by Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Write to registered Emergency Department staff highlighting the case, referral-note review, electronic prescribing, fluid documentation, short-infusion orders and timely sepsis treatment.
Stated by Milton Keynes University Hospital 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
The electronic prescribing expiry issue was not relevant to the patient's case, although fluid administration documentation was poor.
Stated by Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised2
Failure to put fluid balance charts in place
Poor maintenance of clinical records of fluid administration
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.5
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Action
Conduct and continue unannounced cross-site fluid-management audits on every COTE ward, monitoring Careflow Vitals recording and appropriate follow-up.
Stated by BHRUT -
Action
Conduct peer fluid-monitoring audits between COTE wards and share results through governance meetings and daily huddles.
Stated by BHRUT -
Action
Provide nursing staff with Careflow Vitals training and one-to-one fluid-monitoring support.
Stated by BHRUT
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Action
Train medical staff to access fluid balances in Careflow Vitals and discontinue completion of paper fluid charts.
Stated by BHRUT -
Action
Carry out a clinical safety assessment to identify and mitigate hazards affecting entry or viewing of fluid-balance data.
Stated by BHRUT
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Concerns raised2
Inaccurate recording of food intake
Failure to record fluid intake directly by the estimating staff
This report raised 11 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
Operate a hydration-monitoring system using first-four-week fluid charts, shift-based hydration trolleys, millilitre recording and daily senior review of charts and electronic records.
Stated by Runwood Homes PLC
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Concerns raised1
Failure to maintain complete records of fluid provision and pad status
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.
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 provider has taken sufficient action to mitigate risks and prevent future deaths.
Stated by Care Quality Commission
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Concerns raised1
Failure to record fluid intake accurately
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.4
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Action
Maintain ongoing staff training on nutrition, hydration, and responding to declining food or fluid intake.
Stated by Tanglewood -
Action
Review and amend the Nutrition and Hydration policy to cover intake recording, refusals, fluid targets, and discussions with clinicians and families.
Stated by Tanglewood -
Action
Embed admission safeguards requiring risk assessments, daily charts, documented communications, timely referrals, and updates to residents and representatives.
Stated by Tanglewood
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Action
Continue face-to-face staff training on care documentation and recording offered or declined nutrition and fluids.
Stated by Tanglewood
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
Staff cannot force residents to take food or fluids when they refuse, but must record the refusal and intake.
Stated by Tanglewood
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Concerns raised2
Failure of managers to detect inadequate monitoring records
Inadequate contemporaneous records of fluid intake and output
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.4
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Action
Deliver catheter-care refresher training and shared learning on fluid-intake recording and alternative catheter access routes.
Stated by Exemplar Health Care -
Action
Digitise EQA governance and establish team-leader accountability, daily management reviews, clinical walkarounds, take-twenty meetings and electronic quality-assurance tracking.
Stated by Exemplar Health Care -
Action
Implement monthly audits of supplementary and care files, with findings discussed with unit managers.
Stated by Exemplar Health Care
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Action
Deliver workshops and coaching on creating, implementing and monitoring unambiguous care plans and comprehensive records across all service users.
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.1
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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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Concerns raised1
Failure to maintain nutrition and fluid charts
This report raised 15 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 of the care recording system to support accessible and complete food and fluid intake records
This report raised 19 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
Develop and improve the Pandora information system through a staff user group.
Stated by Jeesal Residential Care Services Limited
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
A paper-based care system is considered detrimental because it would undermine remote monitoring, statistical analysis and a whole-system approach.
Stated by Jeesal Residential Care Services Limited
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Concerns raised1
Failure to complete prescription and fluid balance charts for prescribed fluids
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.
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
Conduct regular Emergency Department spot audits and huddles to verify NEWS2 recording, prompt escalation and completion of fluid charts.
Stated by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Complete daily real-time Consistency in Care Audits reviewing NEWS2 and fluid-balance compliance and manage identified inconsistencies.
Stated by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Data last updated 7 September 2026