NHS England Reports Nearly 3,000 Daily Corridor-Care Cases, Pledges to End Practice by 2029
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 11
NHS England Reports Nearly 3,000 Daily Corridor-Care Cases, Pledges to End Practice by 2029
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 11
Summary
2,910 NHS patients a day on average were treated in corridors or makeshift spaces in England in May, the first official tally of a practice ministers call unsafe and unacceptable.
The new data show 2,241 daily cases in A&E and 669 on wards, with corridor care defined as waits of more than 45 minutes for an appropriate treatment space or bed.
Health Secretary James Murray said publishing the figures will expose where the problem is concentrated, adding that most cases are clustered in a small number of trusts needing support.
Patients and staff described waits of 24 to 36 hours, care on trolleys and chairs, and emergency scenes in corridors, with nurses reporting burnout, loss of dignity and even unnoticed deaths.
The figures set a baseline for the government's pledge to eradicate corridor care across the NHS by 2029.
With 1,300 deaths linked to overcrowding monthly, can new triage systems and crack teams truly fix the NHS's corridor care crisis?
The NHS has a £100bn funding gap. Are promised urgent care centres enough to end the 'war zone' conditions in UK hospitals?
Corridor Care in NHS England: Systemic Failures, Patient Harm, and the Challenge of the 2029 Target
Overview
Corridor care has become a major crisis in NHS England, officially recognized and condemned by leaders like Health Secretary Wes Streeting and professional bodies such as the RCP and BMA. The problem goes beyond patients on trolleys in corridors, now including non-clinical spaces like coffee shops and reception areas. This widespread issue is rooted in deep systemic failures, including chronic understaffing, lack of beds, and poor patient flow. The crisis severely affects both patients and staff, leading to undignified and unsafe care, and highlights the urgent need for comprehensive solutions that address these underlying causes.