IHRD-24 Response Accepted

Blood Test Result Documentation

Recommendation

All blood test results should state clearly when the sample was taken, when the test was performed and when the results were communicated and in addition serum sodium results should be recorded on the Fluid Balance Chart.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Implementation status based on Department of Health NI Implementation Programme updates..
Sources
Government response (2018-03-01): Accepted Source: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/topics/ihrd-implementation-programme Text: Blood test documentation standards updated. Serum sodium recording on fluid balance charts implemented. Progress update (2024-01-31): Completed Implementation status based on Department of Health NI Implementation Programme updates. Source: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/topics/ihrd-implementation-programme
How was this evidence gathered?
Evidence searched by baseline-data-v1 on 26 May 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.health-ni.gov.uk
This recommendation applies across many organisations. The evidence above reflects central policy activity; adoption in individual organisations may vary.
Jurisdiction
Northern Ireland
Response
Accepted
Accepted HSC Trusts
01 Mar 2018

Blood test documentation standards updated. Serum sodium recording on fluid balance charts implemented.

Read Full Response
Published Evidence

Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

Confirmed Completed
06 Feb 2026
HSC Trusts Other

Blood test documentation standards updated. Serum sodium recording on fluid balance charts implemented. Prescribing documentation and clinical record-keeping standards (recs 24-29) largely implemented.

View detailed findings

Recommendations 24-29 covered clinical documentation standards including blood test results, drug prescription documentation, recording of clinical discussions, and record-keeping audit. These practical improvements have been implemented across HSC Trusts.

IHRD Implementation Programme - Workstream 4 View Source
Source
Inquiry Hyponatraemia Inquiry
Report Report of the Inquiry into Hyponatraemia-related Deaths 31 Jan 2018
View Source
Responsible Bodies
HSC Trusts Primary
Themes & Tags
Inaccurate and inaccessible patient records Significant event log failures Laboratory Documentation Fluid Management
Recommendation age 8.3 yrs
Last formal update 851 days ago