‘Corridor care’ in hospitals becoming the new norm

A RCN survey of emergency nursing staff in England reveals the difficulties of providing care to patients in cramped and unsuitable locations.

More than 1,000 members of our Emergency Care Association responded to the Royal College of Nursing survey on the extent of ‘corridor care’ in England, finding that providing care to hospital patients in corridors and other non-clinical areas is becoming normalised, with almost 90 per cent saying the term ‘corridor nursing’ is now being used at their trust.

In fact, nine out of 10 say the safety of patients is being compromised as a result. Nearly three-quarters of respondents told the RCN that they provide care to patients in a non-designated area, such as a corridor, on a daily basis. A further 16 per cent say they do the same at least once a week. Nursing care is increasingly being delivered in this way to patients waiting to be seen at A&E, and to those who have been judged sick enough to admit to hospital, but for whom a bed cannot be found.

David Smith, chair of the RCN’s Emergency Care Association and an experienced A&E nurse in London, said: “As specialist emergency nurses, we are in a privileged position, as we care for people when they need help most. But we’re starting to see more and more care delivered in completely unsuitable locations, as this survey shows. The responses reveal how demoralised nursing staff feel about working in these conditions – they are simply not sustainable and could deter future nurses from embarking on this unique and rewarding career.”