NHS Confederation comments on RCN'S corridor care data analysis

Responding to new analysis by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) on NHS nursing staff in England predicting a “devastating” corridor care winter for patients, Rory Deighton, acute and community care director at the NHS Confederation, said:

“These findings are deeply concerning and are yet more evidence of rising demand on the NHS, leaving patients being treated in unsuitable places such as corridors and temporary wards. Corridor care is undignified, unsafe and frustrating for patients and their families, and leaves NHS staff unable to provide the care they would like to.

“With flu levels already surging earlier than in previous years NHS leaders and frontline staff will be working incredibly hard to keep patients safe over the winter months. In order to do this they may need to make difficult decisions about where patients receive their care.

“Health leaders continue to work on the root causes of corridor care, trying to ensure flow through the system by improving patient discharge, working with local authorities to improve social care support, and prioritising vulnerable older patients at the front door through increased frailty screening.”