Almost 20% of patients in England’s A&E departments were receiving care on trolleys or chairs during the summer, as indicated by a recent survey. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine conducted research highlighting the alarming situation of corridor care, which it described as a national disgrace, posing risks to patients’ lives. A survey of A&E clinical leads revealed that 19% of patients were being treated in corridors, with an additional 34% being cared for in ambulances outside the departments.
The study also found that 78% of respondents believed that patients were exposed to harm due to the compromised quality of care in such conditions. One patient shared their experience, expressing concerns about feeling neglected and vulnerable while receiving care in a corridor, impacting their confidence in seeking emergency care in the future.
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine compiled this data for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Emergency Care, which conducted public polling indicating that 58% of individuals lack confidence in the timeliness of service at A&E departments. This report follows a previous study by Age UK, revealing that elderly patients endured long waits in hospital corridors, witnessing others’ suffering.
Dr. Ian Higginson, President of The Royal College of Emergency Medicine, emphasized the distressing reality of corridor care, labeling it a national disgrace. Urgent action is needed as patients face prolonged waits in inadequate spaces, leading to risks and indignities. The call for better-funded social care to alleviate the strain on emergency services is gaining traction.
Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan, an emergency doctor who chairs the APPG, emphasized the urgent need for support to address the challenges faced by frontline healthcare staff. The General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, Professor Nicola Ranger, echoed concerns about the prolonged suffering of patients in emergency departments, urging government intervention to improve care standards and address staffing shortages.
The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the unacceptable nature of corridor care and pledged to address the issue by investing in urgent care centers, ambulances, mental health crisis facilities, and vaccination programs. The focus is on enhancing emergency care services to ensure timely and dignified treatment for all patients.
