The survey of doctors suggests corridor care ‘has sadly become an everyday reality’ for medics and is not confined to winter, according to the Royal College of Physicians
Almost three in five doctors cared for patients in places like hospital corridors, offices and cupboards this summer, according to a new survey.
The poll suggests corridor care “has sadly become an everyday reality” for medics and is not confined to winter, according to the Royal College of Physicians (RCP).
Some doctors said they had even considered retiring early due to the issue.
Almost three in five (59%) said they had delivered care in a temporary care environment between June and August, including in corridors, gyms, offices, and even cupboards, RCP’s survey found.
Of those, 45% said they had done so daily or almost daily, with nearly all (94%) saying patient privacy and dignity had been compromised and 81% reporting that clinical practice was physically difficult.
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Out of those who had delivered ‘corridor care’, 72% said they felt forced to provide care in these environments, while 66% said they felt this was the new norm.
Concerningly, 8% said the experience had made them consider leaving their roles altogether. One medic described treating patients – one of whom had a brain abscess – in front of a vending machine as “a new low”.
The RCP is reiterating its calls on the NHS to prevent this practice by implementing systems and processes to improve patient flow and discharge and to pledge long-term investment in social care.
Dr Hilary Williams, RCP clinical vice president, said: “Delivering care in corridors and other temporary spaces has sadly become an everyday reality for many doctors, placing immense physical and emotional strain on staff.
“Patients deserve better. They should receive care in safe, private, and properly equipped environments. Lasting change requires urgent systemic action.”
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Executive Director of RCN England Patricia Marquis said: “This testimony from doctors matches what we have been hearing from nursing staff.
“Corridor care is a year-round, 24/7 problem and there has been no respite in the summer months. It is now more than a year since nursing staff first sounded the alarm on this crisis and the disaster in our hospitals shows little sign of improvement.
“This is a critical moment and without urgent action entire hospitals risk being overwhelmed this winter.”
Rory Deighton, acute and community care director at the NHS Confederation, said: “This new survey paints a deeply worrying picture of the use of corridor care and its impact on staff.
“There is no easy fix, but the NHS and partners are working incredibly hard to bolster community support to care for people closer to home and reduce demand on hospitals.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “It is shocking corridor care has become a feature of the NHS and we are working at pace to turn around more than a decade of neglect.
“To prepare our health service this winter we are expanding urgent and emergency capacity and upgrading hundreds of ambulances across the country – backed by an extra £450 million.
“We are also ensuring vulnerable people are protected from covid and flu through our vaccine programme – and we are working with NHS leaders this winter to implement robust plans for their patients.”
::: RCP surveyed 553 physicians across the UK between September 3 and 17.
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