National guidance on SMART action points
Nationally, the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England should consider whether nationwide guidance should be issued on the importance of action points from all relevant meetings involving healthcare agencies, discharge plans and management plans after risk assessments being recorded in a SMART-compliant (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) way.
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England are the lead organisations and expect to complete the implementation of this recommendation by 31 March 2027. Progress and next steps:
- DHSC and NHS England support the recording of action points from healthcare meetings in a SMART-compliant manner, with clear responsibility attribution, agree to deliver the following:
- Map the range of current training and guidance, including from professional bodies, on relevant record keeping issues.
- Consider gaps in content based on issues raised in the Inquiry.
- Consider how best to encourage and support the implementation of action points from healthcare meetings.
Progress Timeline
Government response published 2 July 2026 (CP 1623). The government accepted this recommendation; the lead department reports implementation is in progress.
Awaiting government response. Phase 1 report published 13 April 2026.