First reported 6 Jun 2014•Latest report 9 Sep 2024
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes entry, person, room and comparable searches or screening intended to detect, record and remove drugs, contraband or dangerous prohibited items in a controlled environment.
Not included
Searches for missing people or investigative evidence unrelated to prohibited-item control
Physical perimeter controls where no search or screening process is involved
Drug testing intended to identify consumption rather than possession or entry
Reports
9
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
13
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2014–2024
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
12
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.
Department of Health and Social Care3
Care Quality Commission2
Adullam Homes Housing Association Limited1
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust1
Birmingham Prison1
East London NHS Foundation Trust1
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust1
HM Prison and Probation Service1
Inmind Healthcare Group1
Metropolitan Police Service1
Ministry of Justice1
NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board1
NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group1
NHS England1
NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board1
NHS trust6
Ministerial department4
Health and social care service regulator2
Integrated care board2
Clinical commissioning group1
Executive agency1
Executive non-departmental public body1
Healthcare site1
Multi-service care provider1
Police force1
Prison or young offender institution1
Registered provider of social housing1
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.
West Yorkshire Eastern
Concerns raised2
Failure to search patient rooms and hospital grounds after serious illicit-drug incidents
Failure to record the nature, duration and responsible person for searches of returning 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 concerns
Each 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
Actions taken following the Serious Incident Report are considered sufficient to address identified issues and prevent similar future deaths.
Stated by Inmind HealthcareExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Manchester North
Concerns raised1
Ineffective searches of patients’ rooms for stockpiled medication
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 concerns
Each 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
Action
Deliver training for ward staff on effective room and personal searches and record compliance.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 22 February 2023.
Action
Update the Trust search policy to incorporate learning about contraband and reinforce search procedures.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 22 February 2023.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Room searches were conducted and found no medication; intimate searches were not indicated at the time.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Buckinghamshire
Concerns raised1
Failure to conduct effective bedroom searches for prohibited self-harm items
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 concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Manchester North
Concerns raised1
Failure to follow the procedure for requesting a drug check of a resident’s room
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 concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
East London
Concerns raised1
Failure of searches to detect and remove dangerous contraband
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 concerns
Each 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
Action
Revise the search policy to govern search-information handover and review, and the disposal or storage of seized items, then disseminate the changes.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 May 2021.
Action
Create and deliver a search training course, record completion in ESR, provide it at induction and every two years, and monitor compliance.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 May 2021.
Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised2
Failure to maintain an effective searching system for patients and visitors
Incomplete and flawed checks and removal of dangerous items from patient rooms
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 concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised2
Failure to effectively search staff entering the unit
Failure to effectively search residents returning from unsupervised leave
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 concerns
Each 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.6
Action
Conducted a comprehensive inspection of the trust and published the inspection reports.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 June 2019.
Action
Conducted a comprehensive follow-up inspection of the trust and assessed its search and security arrangements.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 June 2019.
Action
Search service users returning from unescorted leave, in addition to scanner screening.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 June 2019.
Action
Provide each service user with at least one random monthly drug screen, varied according to individual risk and care plans.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 June 2019.
Action
Conduct random clothing searches after unescorted community leave when individual concerns are identified.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 June 2019.
Action
Directed the trust to assess individually the risks posed by patients returning from leave.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 June 2019.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Staff are not routinely searched; scanning, drug-dog detection and risk-based searches are relied upon to address drug-entry concerns.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Decisions about searching staff entering units are assigned to each individual organisation, not made by the CQC.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised2
Insufficient drug-dog coverage for screening prisoners and visitors
Lack of capability to screen incoming prisoners and visitors for concealed drugs
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 concerns
Each 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
Action
Train specialist dogs to search for and detect new psychoactive substances in prisons.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 November 2015.
Action
Evaluate body-scanner effectiveness for tackling drugs smuggled into prisons.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 November 2015.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Four drug dogs are deployed strategically according to intelligence and risk, including searches of prisoners, visitors, cells and targeted areas.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
South and East Cumbria
Concerns raised1
Insufficient searching of patients’ property for concealed dangerous items
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 concerns
Each 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 Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is responsible for addressing the four concerns relating to events on the Dova Unit.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
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Includes entry, person, room and comparable searches or screening intended to detect, record and remove drugs, contraband or dangerous prohibited items in a controlled environment.
