Nearly 3,000 patients a day in England are receiving care in hospital corridors due to bed shortages in A&E units, according to official figures published for the first time by NHS England. The data recorded an average of 2,241 daily instances of corridor care in A&E departments, with a further 699 patients treated in other inappropriate settings such as cupboards, car parks or toilets.
Corridor care is defined as treatment in a clinically inappropriate setting, lacking privacy, access to food and water, and adequate noise and lighting levels. The figures reveal stark regional disparities, with just 20 NHS trusts accounting for more than half of all A&E corridor care cases.
Dr Ian Higginson, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, called corridor care a “national scandal” and said its widespread use was finally being taken seriously. However, he expressed doubts about the accuracy of the data, warning that trusts may be “gaming the system” and that the true scale of the problem might be underreported.
Health Secretary James Murray said: “Corridor care is unacceptable, undignified and has no place in our NHS. Publishing this data shines a spotlight on where problems are greatest.” He added that ending the practice would take time and require tailored solutions for different areas.
Separately, the overall NHS waiting list rose for the first time in six months to 7.22 million in May, up from 7.11 million in March. Over 99,700 patients had been waiting more than a year for routine treatment, an increase from 94,406 at the end of March.
