Corridor Care Becoming the Norm
Patients are dying in hospital corridors, while pregnant women miscarry in makeshift areas, according to nurses across the UK. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) reports that overcrowding has forced staff to repurpose spaces like car parks, bathrooms, and cupboards as patient care areas. Nurses warn that such practices jeopardize patient safety, with life-saving equipment often inaccessible and inadequate space for urgent procedures like CPR.
Testimonies Highlight Harrowing Conditions
The RCN collected evidence from over 5,000 nurses, revealing distressing accounts of patients enduring undignified and unsafe conditions. One nurse described a frail dementia patient being changed in a corridor next to a vending machine. Others shared instances of patients suffering cardiac arrests in crowded corridors, delaying critical care, or dying on trolleys while awaiting treatment.
A Call for Action Amid Critical Incidents
RCN General Secretary Prof. Nicola Ranger described the findings as a “wake-up call” for the government, urging increased investment to address the crisis. Over 20 NHS trusts have declared critical incidents this winter, citing high flu rates and severe weather. While flu hospitalizations have slightly decreased, healthcare professionals caution that the crisis is far from over.
Government Response Sparks Debate
Health Secretary Wes Streeting attributed the current pressures to years of mismanagement by the previous government. “I will never accept patients being treated in corridors,” he told Parliament, committing to long-term reforms. However, nurses and patient advocates argue that immediate actions are necessary to prevent further harm.
Nurses Voice Frustration and Embarrassment
Nurses shared their heartbreak over the deteriorating standards of care. A critical care nurse described being redeployed to an overwhelmed A&E, stating, “I felt embarrassed to work for the NHS. Never in my 30-year career could I have imagined this would become the norm.” Another recounted a dying patient left in a corridor for hours without proper end-of-life care.
Long-Term Impacts on NHS Priorities
The normalization of corridor care risks undermining NHS efforts to reduce waiting lists for non-urgent procedures. Chris McCann of Healthwatch England emphasized that the current state is unacceptable. “Patients deserve better,” he said, echoing widespread calls for urgent reforms. The RCN insists that without immediate action, patient safety and dignity will continue to erode.
Follow us on Socials: