Recurring concern
Failure to investigate prolonged unexplained symptoms
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Request correctionFirst reported 22 Dec 2015•Latest report 19 Jun 2024
What this concern includes
Includes failures to recognise persistent or unexplained symptoms as requiring further investigation, second opinion, specialist review or escalation, including delays in investigating unexplained abdominal pain and comparable symptom presentations.
Not included
- Excludes failures involving a named disease-specific diagnostic pathway where that condition supplies the more specific supported concern.
- Excludes failures occurring after appropriate investigation has been completed, including treatment or follow-up deficiencies unrelated to the investigation decision.
- Excludes generic clinical-record, staffing, communication or continuity-of-care deficiencies unless they directly cause failure to investigate prolonged or unexplained symptoms.
- Excludes isolated diagnostic disagreement or an adverse outcome without an asserted continuing failure to investigate, reconsider or escalate prolonged or unexplained symptoms.
- Reports
- 5
- Individual concerns
- 5
- Date range
- 2015–2024
- Stated actions
- 3
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 investigate the underlying cause of persistent tachycardia and low blood pressure
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 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
Discuss the case with ward and governance staff to promote recognition of underlying causes of abnormalities in apparently stable patients.
Stated by East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Circulate learning on persistent tachycardia and the need for further investigations to identify its underlying cause.
Stated by East Suffolk and North Essex 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
Concerns about care at Colchester General Hospital fall outside NHS England’s remit.
Stated by NHS England
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Position
East Suffolk & North Essex NHS Foundation Trust is responsible for responding to concerns about care at Colchester General Hospital.
Stated by NHS England
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Concerns raised1
Failure to investigate persistent back pain and tenderness
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.1
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Action
Consider or make x-ray referrals for older patients after significant trauma.
Stated by Recipient name withheld
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
An x-ray was not considered indicated at the time because there was no midline lumbar spine bony tenderness, although this assessment was later reconsidered.
Stated by Recipient name withheld
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Concerns raised1
Delays in undertaking appropriate investigations for unexplained abdominal pain
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.
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 identify red flags and obtain second opinions or further tests for prolonged unexplained symptoms
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 escalate concerning postoperative symptoms for CT imaging
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.
Data last updated 7 September 2026