Home / Health / NHS Corridors Become Patient Wards Amid Crisis
NHS Corridors Become Patient Wards Amid Crisis
8 Jan
Summary
- Hospitals are using corridors and storerooms for patient care.
- Adaptations include installing emergency call bells and plug sockets.
- Patient flow issues lead to corridor care year-round, not just winter.
Several NHS hospitals are reportedly transforming corridors and other non-clinical areas into patient care spaces, installing essential equipment like plug sockets and emergency call bells. This measure is being taken due to persistent patient flow challenges that occur throughout the year, not solely during peak winter demand. The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) investigated 13 hospitals between August and December 2025, finding that corridor care has become a regular occurrence.
Senior staff noted they felt compelled to adapt these spaces, despite reservations about normalizing such practices, because they "could not avoid" their use. Doctors and nurses consider corridor care the "best worse" option compared to leaving patients in ambulances or waiting rooms. However, the HSSIB urges health leaders to collaboratively and systematically address the risks associated with these temporary care environments. A nationally agreed definition for these spaces is also recommended.
Patient safety risks identified include difficulties in monitoring deteriorating patients, increased infection risks, and insufficient access to resources like piped oxygen. While some trusts are implementing safety mitigations, concerns remain about the underlying issues driving the need for corridor care. The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledges the situation is "unacceptable and undignified" and is committed to ending it, while also facing criticism for not prioritizing urgent and emergency care.
