Eight in 10 trusts are caring for emergency department patients in corridors, BMJ investigation finds

Back to news list

Source: BMJ

Original: http://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj.r2636.short?rss=1...

Published: 2025-12-16T15:55:50-08:00

The BMJ found that eight out of 10 NHS trusts in England provide care to emergency patients in corridors or other makeshift spaces, including sitting rooms, X-ray waiting rooms and, in one case, a cafe.[1] Data obtained by the BMJ shows that at least 500,000 patients have been treated in such temporary facilities.[1] In some trusts, according to the BMJ, one in four A&E patients were placed as the last patient in a car or corridor.[1] Corridor care is defined as the delivery of care in hospital corridors or other non-reserved spaces due to high demand.[1] Senior doctors reported that corridor care had a "disastrous" effect on patient care and that end-of-life conversations took place in corridors.[1] The BMJ also published testimony that in some cases emergency/resuscitation equipment did not reach cardiac arrest patients "because everything is in the way".[1]