Corridor care concerns “raised consistently” but problems have worsened, says SAM president (17 January)

Commenting on the Royal College of Nursing’s On the Frontline of the UK’s Corridor Care Crisis report for a piece in The BMJ (17 January), Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, which represents healthcare staff working in acute medicine across the UK, said: “The issue of corridor care is one we have raised consistently over recent years – not months – but, instead of taking the required action over these warnings and those from many other medical bodies, the problem has worsened. 

“Our colleagues have often seen to patients in ambulances, treatment rooms, handover rooms and in extra bed spaces placed between others, often with beds touching so clinicians are unable to examine appropriately or carry out CPR effectively.  

“It is impossible to describe the impact a cardiac arrest in a corridor has on relatives, other patients and staff, let alone the patient suffering this as a consequence of the dire situation we find ourselves in. “Colleagues say they would previously refuse to do not resuscitate and end of life conversations in corridors, yet it is now often commonplace. 

“These conditions also mean patients are denied dedicated curtains, call bells or oxygen, all of which has a clinical and a detrimental effect on personal care/confidentiality and, therefore, reducing the safety and quality of care that can be delivered.  

“The Secretary of State said in his speech to the Commons on Wednesday that he will never accept or tolerate care in corridors, yet the measures needed to change that direction – increased capacity, workforce and improvements in social care – he has so far avoided. 

 “This lack of action is condemning many more patients to degrading corridor care and the current trajectory already suggests it is going to be worse next year not better – and Mr Streeting has already conceded it is likely continue into next year. 

 “There is also a concern about how misguided approaches are impeding progress. For example, there has been a growth of temporary areas in hospitals labelled as admitted areas as a way of clock stopping. This is inappropriate and nearly all of these will be categorised under medicine. 

 “After much campaigning by the Royal College of Physicians, there will now be a requirement for the reporting of temporary escalation care spaces, but it should not be down the pressure of campaigns to effect the changes required to ensure appropriate and safe care and environments for patients and staff. 

“Failure to listen to the vast amount of specialists and organisations repeatedly urging rapid action to tackle to core problems – not superficial or temporary interventions – means that, should things worsen further, those in power will have wilfully ignored the warning signs.”