RCEM: It is shameful that corridor care has become the norm
25 February 2020
Commenting on the Royal College of Nursing’s ‘Corridor Care’ survey that reveals treatment of patients in non-clinical areas is becoming normalised, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, Dr Katherine Henderson said: “We fully recognise these findings from our nursing colleagues. It is shameful that corridor care has become the norm, and this survey reflects the reality Emergency Department staff experience on a daily basis.
“Corridor care is terrible for patients and demoralising for staff, who through no fault of their own, have nowhere to admit patients to.
“Clinical practice becomes more difficult when patients are kept in corridors, dignity is compromised, and safety is put at risk. Long waits are completely unacceptable and associated with increased mortality; we must improve flow within our hospitals.
“Cuts to the bed base must be reversed. Capital investment is needed in our Emergency Departments and hospitals. Social care needs adequate funding. It is not within the gift of staff to address these issues; it is within the gift of the Government.”
