Corridor Nursing Endangering Patient Safety

More and more patients are being forced to receive care in hospital corridors due to overcrowded Accident & Emergency (A&E) units, a dire situation that has been repeatedly highlighted by thousands of nurses. According to a report from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), these overcrowded conditions are leading to a range of dangerous outcomes, including patient deaths in corridors, a shortage of necessary medical equipment, and the prevalence of unsafe practices.

At Aston Knight Solicitors, we have witnessed the serious consequences of understaffing and unsafe practices, particularly when we represented an elderly woman who suffered an injury after being left alone by hospital staff despite feeling unwell. We are increasingly concerned that such incidents are becoming more common.

The RCN’s survey of nursing staff paints a grim picture, with almost 7 in 10 respondents reporting that they are routinely delivering care in overcrowded or unsuitable spaces. These spaces include not only hospital corridors but also makeshift areas such as converted cupboards and even car parks. The situation has become so dire that many nurses are struggling to manage the basic needs of their patients, often in environments that lack essential medical equipment.

One particularly distressing account shared by nursing staff involved caring for as many as 40 patients in a single corridor, with no access to vital lifesaving tools such as oxygen, cardiac monitors, and suction devices. In addition to these logistical challenges, nurses report heartbreaking situations, such as female patients miscarrying in hospital corridors, with no privacy or medical support. There are also numerous reports of nurses being unable to administer timely and adequate CPR to patients experiencing heart attacks due to the severe overcrowding and lack of resources.

Alarmingly, more than 9 in 10 of those surveyed expressed concerns that patient safety is being compromised by the current conditions. The overwhelming consensus among nursing staff is that the situation is not only unsustainable but is also putting lives at risk on a daily basis. As the healthcare system continues to struggle under the strain of growing demand and inadequate resources, the situation is becoming increasingly critical and is calling for immediate and substantial intervention to safeguard both patient well-being and staff morale.

RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: “This devastating testimony from frontline nursing staff shows patients are coming to harm every day, forced to endure unsafe treatment in corridors, toilets and even rooms usually reserved for families to visit deceased relatives. Vulnerable people are being stripped of their dignity and nursing staff are being denied access to vital lifesaving equipment. We can now categorically say patients are dying in this situation.”

Commenting on The Royal College of Nursing’s staff survey on corridor care, Assistant Director of Policy, Tim Gardner, said:

“This report illustrates the scale of the challenge faced by the new government, just in getting the NHS back on its feet and delivering the standards of care people expect, let alone the complexities of longer-term reform. Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes and action is needed right across the health system, including investment in additional capacity in both primary and acute care, new technology and skills to streamline services and boost productivity, as well as long overdue reform and investment in social care.”

Senior Solicitor Andrew Thompson, a key member of the medical negligence team at Aston Knight Solicitors, comments:

“It is truly appalling that the practice of ‘corridor nursing’ has become so widespread within NHS hospitals. Hospitals continue to grapple with severe staffing shortages and a chronic lack of beds. The strain on the system is unsustainable and, unless urgent action is taken, we are likely to see a rise in tragic cases directly linked to overcrowding and the inability to provide adequate care. Immediate reforms are essential to address this escalating crisis and ensure patients receive the standard of care they deserve.”

If you believe you or a loved one has suffered due to medical negligence and you would like a free consultation to discuss your options, please call Aston Knight Solicitors today on 0161 399 1231 or click the ‘Contact’ button above to submit an online enquiry and one of our dedicated Solicitors will contact you to discuss your claim further.