Almost 3,000 patients a day in England are receiving care in hospital corridors due to an unavailability of beds in A&E units across the country, according to official figures published for the first time by NHS England.
The data revealed an average of 2,241 instances each day in May of a patient receiving corridor care in a clinically inappropriate setting for more than 45 minutes within an A&E unit. A further 699 patients a day received care in other inappropriate settings, including in cupboards, car parks or toilets.
Dr Ian Higginson, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, described corridor care as a “national scandal” and said the figures being published indicated its rampant use was finally being taken seriously. However, he expressed concerns about the accuracy of the data, noting that some trusts may be “gaming the system”.
The data also revealed regional disparities, with only 20 NHS trusts accounting for more than half of the cases of corridor care in A&E departments. The overall hospital waiting list rose for the first time in half a year to 7.22 million in May, up from 7.11 million in March.
Health Secretary James Murray said: “Corridor care is unacceptable, undignified and has no place in our NHS. That is why, for the first time, we are publishing this data to shine a spotlight on where the problems are greatest and ensure trusts get the support they need.”
