Recurring concern
Unsafe reliance on clinical questionnaires during patient assessment
Pin
Get email alerts
Request correctionFirst reported 25 Oct 2016•Latest report 18 Nov 2025
What this concern includes
Includes failures in the design, use, completion, review or clinical interpretation of questionnaires or proformas used for patient assessment where mechanical, rote or excessive reliance can impede diagnosis, risk evaluation, reconciliation of information or communication of concerns.
Not included
- Excludes generic clinical assessment or diagnostic-reasoning failures where no questionnaire or proforma is a material part of the unsafe condition.
- Excludes failures of named systems such as NEWS or the Manchester Triage System when that system supplies the more specific supported parent boundary.
- Excludes ordinary documentation omissions where the questionnaire or proforma did not contribute to the unsafe condition.
- Excludes generic staffing, workload or training deficiencies unless they directly cause unsafe reliance on or completion of a clinical questionnaire or proforma.
- Reports
- 5
- Individual concerns
- 6
- Date range
- 2016–2025
- Stated actions
- 10
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.
-
Concerns raised1
Overreliance on self-declaration questionnaires without further enquiry or access to previous medical history
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
-
Action
Include immersion pulmonary oedema in the diving medical screening declaration.
Stated by Sub-Aqua Association -
Action
Remind members at renewal and through periodic newsletters to complete medical declarations accurately.
Stated by Sub-Aqua Association
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Position
Revised medical screening forms and existing training changes are considered sufficient to mitigate the risk of immersion pulmonary oedema in diving.
Stated by Sub-Aqua Association
-
Concerns raised1
Failure of the CIWA protocol to account for advancing age, different metabolic rate, delirium, confusion and lack of collateral evidence
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
-
Action
Reconsider the alcohol-withdrawal guidance, including CIWA-Ar and pharmacological treatment, at the February–March 2026 prioritisation board meeting.
Stated by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
-
Position
Existing recommendations adequately convey the need for professional skill in assessing and monitoring acute alcohol withdrawal.
Stated by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
-
Position
Individual clinicians retain responsibility for treatment decisions and applying guidance appropriately to each patient’s circumstances.
Stated by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence -
Position
NICE cannot amend the CIWA-Ar protocol because it was not produced by NICE.
Stated by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
-
Concerns raised1
Inappropriate ADHD assessment and prescribing suggestion
This report raised 10 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
-
Action
Establish a senior medical decision-making group to review ADHD assessment, diagnosis, questionnaire use and prescribing practice.
Stated by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
-
Concerns raised2
Over-reliance on questionnaires impeding correct diagnosis
Over-reliance on questionnaires causing underestimation of self-harm risk
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.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to consider the whole person and reconcile or communicate missing and discordant information during proforma completion
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.6
-
Action
Publish AMHP guidance requiring direct scrutiny of police custody records and logs.
Stated by Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council -
Action
Publish AMHP guidance requiring direct scrutiny of detained persons’ medical forms.
Stated by Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council -
Action
Publish AMHP guidance requiring direct discussion with police custody officers during each custody-centre assessment.
Stated by Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council
-
Action
Require AMHPs to obtain written medical reports when assessments do not result in detention recommendations.
Stated by Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council -
Action
Establish a governance framework monitoring police-custody assessment outcomes, information sharing, relative communication and AMHP training records.
Stated by Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council -
Action
Review professional development opportunities for AMHPs conducting police-custody assessments.
Stated by Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council
Data last updated 7 September 2026