Nearly 3,000 NHS patients a day are receiving care in hospital corridors, according to shocking new figures released by the health service. The data, published for the first time, reveals the extent of the 'corridor care' crisis across England.
Thousands Affected Daily
In May, more than 90,000 vulnerable people were subjected to corridor care in hospitals across England, as overstretched emergency departments struggle to cope. Daily figures show that 69,000 corridor care incidents were reported at A&E units, averaging 2,241 per day. Additionally, 669 patients on general and acute wards received care outside a bed space for over 45 minutes each day, totalling 20,611 incidents in May.
Under official guidelines introduced in March, anyone left waiting for 45 minutes or more in a hallway, waiting room, or 'clinically inappropriate' area is considered to be receiving corridor care.
Greater Manchester Hit Hard
In Greater Manchester, hospitals reported 2,711 corridor care incidents across A&E and wards, equating to 88 patients daily. At Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, 1,622 A&E patients received corridor care in May, averaging 47 per day. Bolton NHS Foundation Trust saw 407 A&E patients, while Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust had 261 A&E patients and 55 ward patients treated in corridors.
An interactive tool allows patients to check corridor care numbers at their nearest NHS hospital trust.
Government Response
The government has pledged to slash A&E waiting times and end the hallway health crisis. Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting said expert teams would be sent to hospitals with the highest levels of corridor care. The measures focus on NHS England's Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, targeting trusts where corridor care is most widespread.
Siva Anandaciva, director of policy at the King's Fund, commented: "Patients are routinely being treated in hospital corridors, without privacy or dignity. The sheer scale of corridor care is deeply concerning, equating to three in every 100 A&E attendances daily."
In Greater Manchester, the expansion of the Urgent Treatment Centre at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport is part of the plan to tackle the issue.
