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A recent investigation by the BBC has unveiled alarming statistics regarding the state of Accident and Emergency (A&E) services in north-west England, revealing that more than 52,000 patients endured waits exceeding 24 hours for admission to hospitals in 2022. This practice, commonly referred to as “corridor care,” has seen patients being forced to wait on trolleys or chairs, often in uncomfortable and undignified circumstances, due to a severe shortage of available beds. The Royal College of Nursing has deemed this situation a “national emergency,” urging immediate government intervention to end the practice.
Rising Demand and Overwhelmed Resources
The Royal College of Nursing has voiced grave concerns over the escalating crisis, which they attribute to a complex interplay of factors including increased demand for healthcare services, an ageing population, and a persistent shortage of hospital beds. NHS England has acknowledged that this winter marks the busiest on record, with hospitals facing unprecedented pressures that have been building over several years.
Dr Michael Gregory, regional medical director for NHS England in the North West, stated, “Providing care in corridors is not what we want for our patients.” He emphasised the ongoing efforts to mitigate the need for corridor care and reduce waiting times. However, the statistics paint a stark picture: the number of patients experiencing waits of over 12 hours has dramatically increased from just 101 in December 2018 to over 10,658 by December 2025—nearly one in five patients.
The Disturbing Reality of Corridor Care
The BBC’s investigation revealed that the reality of corridor care often extends beyond the reported 12-hour waits, with many patients languishing for 24 hours or more. Specifically, Freedom of Information requests to acute hospital trusts in the region revealed that 52,015 patients waited longer than a full day after a decision to admit before receiving a bed. Disturbingly, 6,893 patients endured waits exceeding 48 hours.
Though often attributed to “winter pressures,” the data indicates that significant numbers of patients faced these long waits even during the warmer months, highlighting that this is not merely a seasonal issue. The situation has become so commonplace that hospitals now routinely assign staff to manage corridor care, yet the lack of privacy and proper facilities compromises patient dignity and recovery.
Families affected by these conditions have recounted distressing experiences, with some patients left without assistance to use the toilet, resulting in further humiliation. Simon Browes, the North West regional director of the Royal College of Nursing, lamented the emotional toll on healthcare workers, stating, “We’re hearing from members who are going to work, feeling anxious and upset.”
A Multi-Faceted Crisis
The factors contributing to this crisis are multifaceted, extending beyond the immediate pressures facing hospitals. A significant element is the ongoing crisis in social care, which leaves many older patients stranded in hospital beds due to the unavailability of suitable care packages. This bottleneck exacerbates the situation, as hospitals struggle to discharge patients who no longer require acute care, thereby limiting the number of available beds for incoming patients.
Compounding this issue is the long-standing trend of decreasing hospital beds, which have dwindled significantly over the past two decades despite rising demand for inpatient care. The government has announced various plans to transition healthcare from hospital settings to community-based care, yet these initiatives have not sufficiently addressed the immediate needs of the healthcare system.
Calls for Immediate Action
In January, Health Secretary Wes Streeting pledged to eliminate corridor care by the end of the current parliamentary session in 2029. However, Browes called for urgent action, highlighting a worrying decline in applications for nursing programmes—over a 30% drop compared to five years ago—and unprecedented attrition rates among nursing students. He stressed that the crisis is not a distant threat; it is happening now.
Dr Gregory acknowledged the growing complexity of patient needs, noting that many individuals admitted to hospitals are older and suffer from multiple health issues. “Despite teams working incredibly hard in very difficult circumstances, this does mean that some patients are cared for by doctors and nurses in corridors,” he said, reaffirming the NHS’s commitment to improving patient care.
Why it Matters
The implications of the ongoing A&E corridor care crisis are profound, affecting not only patient outcomes but also the morale and retention of healthcare professionals. The distressing experiences faced by patients underscore the urgent need for systemic reform within the healthcare system. Without immediate and significant action, this situation threatens to undermine public trust in the NHS and could lead to long-term ramifications for the health of the population. The urgent call for change is not just about improving the system; it’s about restoring dignity and care to every patient who walks through the doors of our hospitals.
