What is 'corridor care' in NHS hospitals?

'Corridor care' refers to patients receiving treatment or waiting for beds in non-designated spaces like corridors and waiting rooms due to overcrowding in A&E departments.

Why is there an increase in corridor care in NHS A&Es?

The increase is primarily due to difficulties in discharging medically fit patients, organizational delays affecting discharge, and a lack of alternatives to admission for patients.

What are the consequences of corridor care for patients?

Patients face unacceptable conditions, prolonged waits of up to 16 days for beds, and there is a significant belief among clinical leads that patients are suffering harm due to these circumstances.

Home / Health / Doctors Warn: Corridor Care 'Inevitable' as A&Es Overwhelmed

Doctors Warn: Corridor Care 'Inevitable' as A&Es Overwhelmed

31 Jan

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Summary

A&Es have more than twice the patients than available treatment bays.
Patients face waits of up to 16 days for an inpatient bed.
93% of clinical leads believe patients are suffering harm due to conditions.

Doctors Warn: Corridor Care 'Inevitable' as A&Es Overwhelmed

Emergency departments in NHS hospitals are now facing a critical situation known as 'corridor care,' with patient numbers exceeding available treatment bays by more than double. This alarming overcrowding is leading to significant delays, with some patients waiting up to 16 days for a hospital bed. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine highlighted these issues through a survey of 81 A&Es in England.

During a snapshot survey, 7,400 patients were present compared to only 2,970 permanent treatment spaces, a ratio of 2.5 to 1. On January 12, the average longest wait for admission exceeded 48 hours, and one mental health patient had been waiting for 16 days. Almost all (93%) of clinical leads surveyed believed patients were coming to harm due to the conditions in their departments.

The primary driver for this overcrowding is the difficulty in discharging patients who are medically fit to leave, largely due to challenges in arranging social and community care, cited by 93% of respondents. Organisational delays and a lack of alternatives to admission also contribute significantly.