Inaccessible multi-agency patient information

NHS trusts and primary care trusts must have systems which ensure that patients know where and to whom to go when they need further information or explanation.

Sharing of intelligence between regulators needs to go further than sharing of existing concerns identified as risks. It should extend to all intelligence which when pieced together with that possessed by partner organisations may raise the level of concern. Work should be done on a template of the sort of information each organisation would find helpful.

There needs to be a clear regional view of all services available in the community, especially given the variety of services and providers of services now available. The service map recommended in 2022 must be regularly updated to reflect available services and vacancies, searchable by both families and care managers.

Local authority chief executives must ensure that only one electronic database system is used by all those working in children and families’ services for the recording of information. This should be the same system in use across the council, or at least compatible with it, so as to facilitate the sharing of information, as appropriate.

All independent panels and inquiries examining police investigations should be given full access to the associated HOLMES accounts at their secure premises when they begin their work.