First reported 14 Nov 2014•Latest report 16 Apr 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures in hospital or emergency-department arrangements for accepting patients requiring treatment, including absent or unclear acceptance procedures, criteria, responsibilities, inter-hospital or cross-agency agreements, and communication needed to determine and safely implement acceptance.
Not included
Excludes clinical treatment, assessment or admission failures after a hospital has reliably accepted the patient.
Excludes general hospital bed shortages, referral delays or transfer problems where the acceptance decision or acceptance arrangements are not themselves deficient.
Excludes generic communication, staffing or policy deficiencies without a direct hospital acceptance-process connection.
Excludes routine eligibility, commissioning or administrative decisions unrelated to safely accepting patients for treatment.
Excludes the existing concern on cross-Trust transfer arrangements when the assertion concerns transfer after acceptance rather than the hospital acceptance decision itself.
Reports
4
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
6
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2014–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
8
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.
NHS England2
Cleveland Police1
Department of Health and Social Care1
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office1
Home Office1
Independent Office for Police Conduct1
Legal representatives of the interested persons1
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust1
NHS South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group1
The Hospital of St Thomas the Apostle in Doncaster1
Executive non-departmental public body2
Clinical commissioning group1
Ministerial department1
NHS trust1
Police force1
Police oversight body1
Registered provider of social housing1
Type not available1
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.
Inner West London
Concerns raised1
Lack of a set procedure for UK hospital acceptance of patients from other countries
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.4
Position
The concerns about procedures for accepting foreign patients fall outside NHS England’s remit.
Stated by NHS EnglandOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
DHSC and FCDO are identified as the more appropriate organisations to respond to concerns about accepting foreign patients for treatment.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Acceptance of foreign patients by NHS hospitals is governed by existing local procedures rather than a national procedure.
Stated by NHS EnglandExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Responding to the concern falls outside the respondent’s remit and is instead a matter for the Health Department.
Stated by Foreign, Commonwealth & Development OfficeOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Mid Kent and Medway
Concerns raised1
Delays in securing acceptance by an appropriate vascular site
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.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Central and South East Kent
Concerns raised1
Delays in accepting transfer of suspected aortic dissection patients while awaiting CT imagery
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.2
Action
Clarify and reinforce to cardiothoracic registrars that aortic dissection referrals must be discussed immediately with the duty consultant, who decides transfer and any pre-transfer CT review.
Stated by Guy'S and St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 14 December 2015.
Action
Extend the open-door policy to ascending-aorta and arch dissections, enabling consultant-authorised immediate transfer with guaranteed theatre and critical-care capacity.
Stated by Guy'S and St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 14 December 2015.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Clarified consultant escalation and guaranteed immediate transfer arrangements are considered sufficient to prevent recurrence of confusion and delay.
Stated by Guy'S and St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Teesside
Concerns raised3
Lack of memorandum of understanding or guideline for taking aggressive detainees to A&E departments
Insufficient A&E consultant understanding of which detainees will be accepted for treatment
Insufficient police understanding of A&E treatment for detainees
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.
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
Establish joint guidance for assessing, treating, discharging and communicating information about aggressive or medically unwell detainees attending emergency departments.
Stated by NHS Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield CCG and NHS Hartlepool and Stockton on Tees CCG and NHS North Durham CCG and NHS South Tees Clinical Commissioning GroupStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 14 November 2014.
Action
Inform relevant NHS and police staff about the agreed detainee-management guidance.
Stated by NHS Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield CCG and NHS Hartlepool and Stockton on Tees CCG and NHS North Durham CCG and NHS South Tees Clinical Commissioning GroupStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 14 November 2014.
Action
Issue Cleveland Police guidance for managing aggressive detainees transferred to emergency or mental-health services, incorporating agreed police and NHS arrangements.
Stated by Cleveland PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 14 November 2014.
Action
Brief custody staff, medical staff and frontline officers on the new detainee-transfer guidance.
Stated by Cleveland PoliceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 14 November 2014.
Action
Review the effectiveness of the guidance after six months.
Stated by Cleveland PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 14 November 2014.
Action
Hold discussions with Durham Constabulary to ensure officers know that patients should be taken to the emergency department.
Stated by NHS Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield CCG and NHS Hartlepool and Stockton on Tees CCG and NHS North Durham CCG and NHS South Tees Clinical Commissioning GroupStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 14 November 2014.
Pin
Get email alerts
Request correction
Includes failures in hospital or emergency-department arrangements for accepting patients requiring treatment, including absent or unclear acceptance procedures, criteria, responsibilities, inter-hospital or cross-agency agreements, and communication needed to determine and safely implement acceptance.
