Recurring concern
Failure to reliably preserve handover records
- Reports that mention this concern
- 5
- Times this concern has been raised
- 6
- Stated actions linked to this concern
- 6
What this concern includes
Includes failures of controls specifically intended to retain, protect, preserve, retrieve or assure the availability of handover records across care settings and staff transitions, including overwritten or destroyed records and inadequate retention arrangements.
What is not included
- Excludes failures in the content, completeness or communication of a handover where the handover record was reliably preserved.
- Excludes general clinical or care record-keeping deficiencies where handover records are not the material object.
- Excludes failures to transfer handover information between staff or services when the record-retention or preservation process is not deficient.
- Excludes records unrelated to handover, including supervision, incident, medical or administrative records unless the assertion explicitly concerns preserving the handover record.
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.
Reports and published responses 5 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to complete and store mental health unit handover records in SystmOne
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Portsmouth Hospitals University 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.3
-
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Transfer inpatient handovers from Word documents to SystmOne and train staff in the new process.
-
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Attend inpatient handovers, audit clinical records, and escalate audit outcomes through governance meetings to assure handover quality and accuracy.
-
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
Work with the Integrated Care Board and regional acute trusts towards a paper-free electronic patient record.
-
Concerns raised2
Delayed managerial detection of missing handover records
Failure to preserve handover records
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Exemplar Health Care
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
-
Exemplar Health Care
Preserve handover records through electronic monthly files, printed management-office copies, archiving and monthly completeness checks.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
-
Exemplar Health Care
Existing management oversight, quality assurance and governance processes are considered sufficient to ensure records are kept, retained and reviewed for trends.
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Exemplar Health Care
Electronic storage, printed copies and monthly checks ensure handovers cannot be overwritten and remain accessible.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to preserve handover records
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to retain shift hand-over sheets
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care 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.1
-
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Consider introducing electronic archiving of ward and departmental handover sheets.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Paper handover sheets are not archived because confidentiality and maintaining reliance on the current sheet create practical constraints, although electronic archiving may be introduced.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to retain ward handover sheets for reference
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Stockport 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.1
-
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Provide electronic handover access across Medicine Business Group wards, enabling retrospective access to patient handover information.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Electronic handover records can be accessed retrospectively, so retaining shredded paper handover sheets is unnecessary and risks confidentiality and outdated information.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Data last updated 7 September 2026