The British nursing union has called for transparency from the government regarding the number of patients being treated in “unsafe” conditions, as overcrowding in hospitals continues to worsen. Nurses from the National Health Service (NHS) warned that patients are dying in hospital corridors due to a lack of space and resources, with many being forced to endure what they describe as “corridor care.”
In a report released by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), the nursing union, a survey conducted from mid-December to mid-January revealed the dire state of the NHS during a winter surge in illnesses. The survey, which included around 5,000 nurses, found that overcrowding has become a widespread issue in hospitals across the UK, with many patients being treated in inappropriate settings, including corridors, storage areas, waiting rooms, and even shower rooms.
Nurses reported witnessing disturbing scenes, such as changing incontinent dementia patients near vending machines and checking on patients to see if they were still alive due to overcrowding. The nurses described the conditions as “undignified,” “degrading,” and “unsafe,” with one nurse stating that the situation felt like a “balloon waiting to explode.”
Approximately two-thirds of the nurses surveyed said they were treating patients in these substandard conditions on a daily basis, with 91% confirming that patient safety and care were being compromised as a result. Issues included a lack of oxygen for patients in critical condition and fire hazards caused by overcrowding.
Nicola Ranger, the chief executive of the RCN, condemned the practice, stating that vulnerable patients are being deprived of dignity and proper care. “This devastating testimony from frontline nursing staff shows patients are coming to harm every day,” Ranger said. “We must end the practice of corridor care and invest in the NHS.”
The union is calling for transparency from the government regarding the number of patients being treated in these conditions and urgent investment to address the growing crisis. Several nurses revealed they had either left the NHS or were considering quitting due to the worsening conditions.
Doctors’ groups have also raised alarms about the unsafe environment in hospitals. Dr. John Dean, clinical vice president of the Royal College of Physicians, called for the elimination of corridor care, emphasizing that the situation has steadily deteriorated. Dr. Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said the current conditions must be “a watershed moment” for change.
The day before the RCN report was released, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged the issue in Parliament, stating that while he would never accept patients being treated in corridors, the practice might continue for some time due to years of underinvestment and lack of reform in the NHS. Streeting pointed to the previous Conservative government’s tenure, from 2010 to 2024, as a contributing factor to the current crisis.
This alarming situation highlights the urgent need for reform and investment in the NHS to ensure that patients receive safe and dignified care.
