Corridor care hits new high before the NHS winter crisis has even started
Data published today shows that England's Corridor Care crisis is getting worse, with more than 470,000 instances of patients being treated in hospital corridors since May.
Every day in September, an average of over 3,300 patients received treatment either in the hallways of an A&E department or in a ward without a bed. This eye watering amount totalled almost 100,000 instances in one month – a 14% increase compared to figures from May, when records were first published.
It comes following the Labour government’s decision to vote down a Liberal Democrat amendment to end corridor care within a year. The amendment also called for a dedicated inquiry to be launched into the Department of Health if this failed to happen. The Conservatives skipped the vote.
The Lib Dems have set out a £1.5bn plan to end corridor care in 12 months through more step-down care and social care provision to free up beds.
Commenting on today's statistics Helen Morgan MP, Liberal Democrat Health & Social Care spokesperson, said:
"Thousands of patients are being treated in hospital corridors every single day and it's getting worse, not better. This is a record high and winter hasn't even started yet.
"Labour promised to end corridor care by the end of this Parliament, but these figures show things are going backwards on their watch. Liberal Democrats have costed proposals to end corridor care in a year - we urge the Prime Minister to steal our ideas and protect patients.
“The Government needs to urgently get a grip on this crisis before winter pressures cause even more people to suffer these appalling conditions.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- The full stats can be found here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/corridor-care-urgent-and-emergency-care-daily-situation-reports/
- The Lib Dems analysis can be found here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LkD8nNLqIfNhHVskQeqw8qsk2xSuLe6-/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=118111279613080858834&rtpof=true&sd=true
- Lib Dem plan to end corridor care and 12 hour waits in A&E can be found here
- Record of how MPs voted on ending corridor care in a year can be found here
The Lib Dem amendment to the Health Bill on corridor care was as follows:
To move the following Clause—
“Corridor care
(1)The Secretary of State must end the practice of corridor care in NHS hospitals within one year of the passage of this Act.
(2)If the requirement under subsection (1) is not met, the Secretary of State must commission an independent inquiry into the Government's handling of corridor care.
(3)The inquiry under subsection (2) must—
(a)investigate the effectiveness of policies, funding and guidance relating to corridor care in the Department of Health and Social Care;
(b)assess the impact on patient safety and staff morale from the continued practice of corridor care; and
(c)recommend steps the Secretary of State should take to end the practice of corridor care.
(4)The inquiry under subsection (2) should be supported by patient safety professionals from the Health Services Safety Investigations Body and the Care Quality Commission.
- (5)The inquiry under subsection (2) must be published and laid before Parliament as a final report within 6 months beginning on the day on which the inquiry is established.”
