Recurring concern
Unreliable welfare-check processes for people whose health is of concern
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Request correctionFirst reported 28 May 2014•Latest report 10 Jun 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures of welfare-check processes for people whose health or welfare is of concern, including unclear purpose, frequency or criteria, inconsistent understanding of what constitutes a check, inadequate recording requirements and related controls needed to ensure checks are meaningful and traceable.
Not included
- Excludes routine patient observations, continuous observation, clinical monitoring and named mental-health observation systems unless the assertion specifically concerns a welfare-check process.
- Excludes failures limited to conducting welfare checks for people in distress where the broader concern is completion of a distress check rather than the health-concern welfare-check process.
- Excludes generic policy, training, documentation or staffing deficiencies unless they directly undermine the definition, delivery or recording of required welfare checks.
- Excludes non-person checks, such as premises, equipment or prisoner-security checks, unless the assertion concerns a person's health or welfare.
- Reports
- 28
- Individual concerns
- 34
- Date range
- 2014–2026
- Stated actions
- 54
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 request police assistance for welfare checks when ambulance resources are constrained
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
Raise overdose welfare checks with police and seek a formal memorandum-of-understanding extension.
Stated by Cardiff & Vale University LHB and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust
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Concerns raised1
Inadequacy of healthcare night welfare checks for determining whether prisoners are breathing or alive
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.1
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Action
Conduct overnight welfare checks using daily printed checklists and review completed checks the following day.
Stated by Care UK
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient efforts to search and check upon a person's wellbeing when asked to attend the scene
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
Lack of clear mandatory criteria for requesting police welfare checks for patients rated 'Red'
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
Insufficient custodial and welfare checks for prisoners on an ACCT and Methadone Stabilisation Programme
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.
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
Review patients on drug treatment programmes jointly with prison staff, agree observation arrangements, and share caseload information.
Stated by Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Introduce a robust system for monitoring patients arriving at HMP Exeter who require night welfare checks.
Stated by Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust
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
The action plan addressed identified care issues, with ongoing compliance audit and executive review providing sufficient assurance.
Stated by Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust
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Position
NOMS at HMP Exeter is responsible for training and auditing operation of the ACCT document system.
Stated by Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Lack of guidance on managing welfare checks concerning an individual’s mental health
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.
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 welfare checks to ascertain death
This report raised 4 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 maintain an appropriate threshold for requesting welfare checks
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.1
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Action
Reconsider and clarify the threshold for requesting welfare checks in the failed-visit flowchart.
Stated by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
Data last updated 7 September 2026