Key Summary
- Hospitals cared for nearly 3000 a day in corridors or other inappropriate treatment areas.
- Corridor care is defined as when patients spend more than 45 minutes being treated in inappropriate settings either in A&E or onwards.
- The daily number represents 3-4 percent of patients coming into hospital via A&E every day.
Hospitals in England cared for around 90,000 patients last month - nearly 3000 a day - in corridors or other inappropriate treatment areas, new figures show.
These NHS England figures are being released publicly for the first time and underline that the practice remains widespread.
Officials say the data highlights the significant challenge the health service faces in eliminating what ministers have described as unsafe and unacceptable care.
Corridor care is recorded when a patient spends more than 45 minutes receiving treatment in an unsuitable area, either in A&E or later in the hospital.
Reports also describe some patients being seen in side rooms or even in car parks, in addition to corridors.
The daily number represents 3-4 percent of patients coming into hospital via A&E every day.
On average in May, 2,241 people per day experienced corridor care while in A&E, and another 669 per day experienced it on wards or nearby.
NHS analysis found that 20 trusts accounted for more than half of the cases of corridor care in A&E, while 20 trusts also accounted for more than two thirds elsewhere in hospitals.
NHS England noted that although May is not typically the most pressured month, services were busier than usual because of the heatwave.
James Murray, the health secretary, said: “Corridor care is unacceptable, undignified and has no place in our NHS. That is why, for the first time, we are publishing this data to shine a spotlight on where the problems are greatest and ensure trusts get the support they need, with the vast majority of corridor care concentrated in a small number of organisations.”
He added: “Ending corridor care for good will take time and different areas will need different solutions, but we are determined to eradicate this practice.”
Royal College of Nursing general secretary Prof Nicola Ranger said the figures were "alarming" and showed unsafe and undignified practice was rife.
