Key facts
- Nearly 3,000 patients per day in England are receiving care in hospital corridors or other inappropriate settings.
- This practice is considered undignified, unsafe, and a "national scandal" by health professionals.
- An average of 2,241 patients daily in May received care in A&E corridors for over 45 minutes.
- An additional 699 patients daily received care in other inappropriate settings.
- The overall hospital waiting list increased to 7.22 million in May.
Official figures released by NHS England reveal that nearly 3,000 patients per day in England are receiving care in hospital corridors or other inappropriate settings due to a shortage of available beds. In May, an average of 2,241 patients daily spent over 45 minutes in A&E corridors, while an additional 699 patients received care in settings like cupboards or car parks.
This practice, termed 'corridor care,' is described as undignified, unsafe, and a "national scandal" by health officials. Dr. Ian Higginson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, welcomed the publication of the data but expressed skepticism about its accuracy and the potential for trusts to manipulate the figures, suggesting the true scale of the problem may be larger than reported.
Regional disparities are significant, with just 20 NHS Trusts responsible for more than half of all corridor care incidents. The overall hospital waiting list also saw an increase, reaching 7.22 million in May, with over 99,000 people waiting more than a year for routine treatment. Health Secretary James Murray acknowledged the unacceptability of corridor care and stated that publishing the data is the first step in addressing the issue, aiming to eradicate the practice over time.