Recurring concern

Unreliable use of hospital passports to support safe care

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First reported 30 Sep 2019•Latest report 7 Jul 2025

Definition

What this concern includes

Includes failures of the hospital-passport process, including staff understanding, recognition, activation, reading, interpretation, communication and use of the passport to support safe care and patient involvement.

Not included

  • Excludes generic communication, training, documentation or reasonable-adjustment deficiencies that are not specifically tied to the hospital-passport process.
  • Excludes deficiencies in discharge passports or other passport-like documents unless the assertion concerns the same hospital-passport system for communicating a patient's needs during care.
  • Excludes failures to involve families, carers or patients where no hospital-passport use or activation failure is identified.
  • Excludes clinical treatment, assessment or care failures that do not involve the reliability of hospital-passport use.
Reports
5

Distinct published reports

Individual concerns
5

A report can raise multiple concerns

Date range
2019–2025

First to latest report issue date

Stated actions
11

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 Care2
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1
NHS England1
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board1
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust1
Oldham Borough Council1
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1

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.

  1. Avon

    AI-generated summary

    Sarah Jayne Lewis · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Sarah Jayne Lewis, who had severe ME/CFS and was largely bedbound, was found deceased at home on 9 August 2024 after taking an overdose with the intention of ending her life. The inquest concluded suicide, with acute toxicity recorded as the cause of death. Concerns included inconsistent national provision of ME services, limited research and treatment options, insufficient professional understanding and training, and unclear implementation of updated NICE guidance.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Incomplete use of hospital passports for people with ME

    Wider context from the report

    “(3) Other professionals do not understand ME, what it is or the symptoms it causes. This can be a barrier to those with ME receiving support, or accessing care/treatment they need. A hospital passport is now being utilised at North Bristol, which assists sufferers. However, it is not clear that this is being used in all areas, and there remains a lack of understanding about ME. Education and training about this has not been prioritised. ”

    Source location

    Sarah Jayne Lewis · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 3 · concerns

    Open source report
  2. Manchester North

    AI-generated summary

    Mark Anthony Fernandez · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Mark Anthony Fernandez, who had cerebral palsy, complex medical needs and lived in supported accommodation with full-time carers, was admitted to hospital with suspected meningitis and recurring infections and remained there until his death; he was later placed on end-of-life care. The substantive concerns included inadequate information in a referral, failure to use his hospital passport, and a best-interests decision that did not take account of the knowledge and views of his long-term carers and social services.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to utilise hospital passports

    Wider context from the report

    “1. The hospital passport was not utilised. 2. A best interest decision was made without taking into account the views of the long-term carers and social services and their knowledge of him as an individual. ”

    Source location

    Mark Anthony Fernandez · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Review the Learning Disability and Autism Policy to add guidance on specialist referrals and Hospital Passport use.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Review of the Learning and Disabilities and Autism policy and Enhanced Patient Observation (“EPO”) policy”

    Source location

    Response from Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
    Page 2 · response
    Published 26 March 2025

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Complete the multidisciplinary review of the Enhanced Patient Observation policy to address learning disability needs and active Hospital Passport use.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Review of the Learning and Disabilities and Autism policy and Enhanced Patient Observation (“EPO”) policy”

    Source location

    Response from Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
    Page 2 · response
    Published 26 March 2025

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Disseminate the Share Learning Take 5 education on learning disability care, diagnostic overshadowing, communication, Hospital Passports and carer involvement.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Share Learning Take 5”

    Source location

    Response from Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
    Page 2 · response
    Published 26 March 2025

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Implement Patient Care Alert procedures to verify contact details, contact care providers, obtain Hospital Passports, and record unresolved information for nursing follow-up.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Patient Care Alert (“PCA”)”

    Source location

    Response from Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
    Page 3 · response
    Published 26 March 2025

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Add a Hospital Passport prompt and learning disability indicator to the patient-status-at-a-glance board.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “3. A prompt will now appear on the ‘patient status at a glance’ board (the bed board) when a Hospital Passport is available and in use. This will reiterate the policy provision with regard to the visibility and prominence of Hospital Passports. The board features a learning disability symbol and staff can include written confirmation of “Hospital Passport in place”.”

    Source location

    Response from Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
    Page 4 · response
    Published 26 March 2025

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Red-flag patients with learning disabilities or Hospital Passports in daily safety huddles and assign senior nurse oversight of vulnerable patients.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Daily safety huddles Further to the PCA, any patient with a learning disability/Hospital Passport will automatically be ‘red flagged’ during daily safety huddles for nursing staff. This adds a further layer of awareness of this cohort of patients and their specific needs. The senior nurse (ward manager) will have oversight of vulnerable patients.”

    Source location

    Response from Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
    Page 4 · response
    Published 26 March 2025

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Continue quarterly Senior Nurse Walkabout reviews of learning disability identification, safety-huddle flags, Hospital Passport availability and currency.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Senior Nurse Walkabout”

    Source location

    Response from Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
    Page 5 · response
    Published 26 March 2025

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Use and further develop the Enhanced Patient Observation audit tool and targeted training to improve person-centred observation practice and quality assurance.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “The Enhanced Patient Observation (“EPO”) policy review and audit tool”

    Source location

    Response from Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
    Page 5 · response
    Published 26 March 2025

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Remind staff to check for and seek Hospital Passports at every presentation, regardless of whether records or systems identify one.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “• As a health and care system, we recognise the importance of Hospital Passports. Staff have been reminded to immediately aware of and seek out whether a Hospital Passport is held, regardless of whether or not one is noted on the patient records, Trust or community systems or is available at any given presentation to services for care.”

    Source location

    Response from NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership Board
    Page 2 · response
    Published 26 March 2025

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    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    The initial absence of the Hospital Passport did not impact the patient’s care, although its immediate availability remains important.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “The Trust’s review determined that Mr Fernandez’s care was not impacted by the initial absence of the Hospital Passport. Notwithstanding this however, the Trust recognises that it’s proper utilisation depends on hospital staff being immediately aware as to the need for this document to accompany a patient with a learning disability or if one is not available to create one.”

    Source location

    Response from Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
    Page 3 · response
    Published 26 March 2025

    Open published response
  3. Manchester South

    AI-generated summary

    Rhys Lennon Hill · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Rhys Lennon Hill underwent spinal surgery and was discharged from Royal Preston Hospital on 30 January 2023. He collapsed at home on 9 February 2023 and attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful; a post-mortem examination found that he died from a pulmonary embolus due to a deep vein thrombosis. The principal concerns included failure to escalate his refusal of Dalteparin or assess the associated risk, failure to provide required VTE information at discharge, and wider problems with communication, documentation, medication reconciliation, and discharge processes.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Limited nursing-team understanding of when to instigate the hospital passport system

    Wider context from the report

    “6. There appeared to be limited understanding amongst the nursing team of when a hospital “passport” system should be instigated for someone who was admitted with a “passport”; ”

    Source location

    Rhys Lennon Hill · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the appropriate organisation to respond to concerns one to seven.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “This response focuses on the issues raised in your Report within the remit of NHS England national policy and programmes. Concern numbers one to seven in your Report fall under the remit of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. I note that you have also addressed your Report to the Trust, who are the appropriate organisation to respond. NHS England has requested to be sighted on this and will carefully consider their response to the coroner. My regional Quality colleagues within the North West have been engaging with Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) to seek assurance for the local concerns raised.”

    Source location

    Response from NHS England
    Page 1 · response
    Published 19 January 2024

    Open published response
  4. South Yorkshire (Western)

    AI-generated summary

    Laura Booth · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Laura Booth died at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital on 19 October 2016 after becoming unwell during an admission for a routine procedure. The inquest found that inadequate management of her nutritional needs led to malnutrition, which contributed to her death, and that clinical decisions about her care were made without properly involving her or her parents under the Mental Capacity Act. The report also raised concerns about staff understanding and application of the Mental Capacity Act and the use of Laura’s hospital passport.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to understand and properly use hospital passports

    Wider context from the report

    “(10) I also remain concerned at a lack of understanding about the importance and relevance of Laura's hospital passport. This is a document which if read and understood by those treating Laura should mean that they can understand her, her communication style and her support needs so that she can be involved in decision making. It also should, if utilised properly, ensure that Laura's parents could have a level of reassurance that even if they were not there, Laura would be treated as if they were as staff would know how to communicate with Laura and understand what it was that she needed from them. ”

    Source location

    Laura Booth · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 4 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Run MCA and Best Interests audits to assess practical application, recording, patient and family involvement, and Health Passport use.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “In order to assess the impact of this training, the following measures have been put in place and are on-going:”

    Source location

    2021-0137-Response-from-Northern-General-Hospital_Published
    Page 2 · response
    Published 5 May 2021

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Re-launch the Health Passport, All About Me booklet and Hospital Communication Booklets through a communication strategy promoting accessibility and use.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “The Health Passport will be re-launched, along with the ‘All About Me’ and Hospital Communication Booklets as part of the MCA communication strategy. The communications will aim to raise awareness of the Passport and encourage staff to ask relevant patients if they have a Passport; if they do, staff should ensure that this is visible and accessible and if they do not, staff should advise the patient/carer to ask their provider to fill it in with them. As part of the re-launch staff will be advised to photocopy the Health Passport and give the original back to the patient (so it does not get mislaid), then ask the patient for permission to put the Passport in a visible place so that it is accessible to all staff who come into contact with the patient.”

    Source location

    2021-0137-Response-from-Northern-General-Hospital_Published
    Page 4 · response
    Published 5 May 2021

    Open published response
  5. Manchester South

    AI-generated summary

    Julie Ann Barrow · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Julie Ann Barrow, who had significant learning disabilities, was admitted to hospital on several occasions for perianal pain, rectal bleeding and haemorrhoids. Following treatment for adjustment disorder and significant sedation, she fell at her family home on 1 April 2019, sustained an unsurvivable brain injury and died in hospital the next day. The principal concerns included the absence of a best interests meeting and reasonable adjustment care plan, ineffective communication and understanding of her needs, inadequate support for her parents, and the loss of the learning disability liaison role.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to make the needs passport accessible to all staff caring for the patient

    Wider context from the report

    “2. On each of her admissions her parents took her needs passport in with her. The inquest was told that this should be used to develop the reasonable adjustments care plan and be accessible to all staff caring for her. On her first admission there was no reasonable care plan put in place despite the fact that she had clear and significant disabilities that would have benefited from an effective plan and her passport was available. Her passport location was not known by all staff caring for her; ”

    Source location

    Julie Ann Barrow · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
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Data last updated 7 September 2026