30 April 2026
Corridor care should never be tolerated in Emergency Departments, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting has told the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) members.
Mr Streeting made the remarks during a keynote speech to the RCEM’s first ever annual conference today (30 April).
In the speech, delivered to more than 1,200 RCEM members in person and around 400 more watching online, the Secretary of State thanked EM clinicians for their hard work in the face overcrowding, corridor care and an overall crisis in EDs across the country.
The Secretary of State also outlined his plans to tackle the crisis, including renewing his pledge to end corridor care by the end of the parliament.
Mr Streeting said: “I cannot imagine walking past lines of trolleys every day, desperately wishing you could do something about it, but being held back.”
He added: “I am clear: corridor care is not normal, it is not acceptable, it should never be tolerated, and I am determined to end it.
“We’re calling it what it is; we’ve defined it; we’re measuring it; and with your help, we’re finally getting on top of it.”
This followed the recent publication of an official definition of corridor care by NHS England earlier this year.
Following his keynote, Mr Streeting took questions from RCEM members in the audience, and from RCEM Vice President for Membership Dr Salwa Malik.
During the Q&A, the Secretary of State was asked if he would work with the College to form a standard on tackling violence and aggression in the ED – and agreed to do so.
Dr Salwa Malik, Vice President Membership for the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: “We thank the Secretary of State for joining us at our inaugural annual conference – and for answering some tough and probing questions from our members.
“Emergency Departments across the country remain under unprecedented pressure and overcrowding, so we welcome Mr Streeting’s renewed pledge to tackle corridor care and for his engagement with the College to date.
“We look forward to working with him further to help tackle the Emergency Care crisis.”