Nursing staff have welcomed the launching of an official investigation into corridor care in NHS hospitals in England, saying it must mark the ‘beginning of the end’ for the unacceptable practice.
The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) today [Tuesday 26 August] confirmed it would begin investigating the prevalence of patients being treated in ‘temporary care environments’, also known as ‘corridor care’.
The investigation has been launched after a devastating report by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) earlier this year revealed harrowing accounts of staff left to deliver care in unsafe, undignified, and unacceptable conditions.
The official investigation, which will be handed to government, will examine closely the impact of corridor care on patients and staff, as well as how organisations respond to issues of patient safety in these spaces.
The RCN says the official investigation is ‘testament to the bravery of thousands of nursing staff who spoke out about a devastating collapse in care standards.’
Despite welcoming the investigation, the RCN maintains that government and NHS England must produce mandatory national reporting on corridor care. This was promised earlier this year but has yet to be delivered.
In the absence of this data, the College expects the HSSIB investigation to shine a light on the scale of the unacceptable conditions patients face in our hospitals, alongside the impact on staff.
For meaningful progress to be made to eradicate corridor care, the RCN says patient demand must be reduced within the acute sector. This will require investment to increase capacity elsewhere, including in the nursing workforce in community settings and social care, to help keep well for longer.
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger, said:
“This is testament to the bravery of thousands of nursing staff who spoke out about a devastating collapse in care standards. No patient should languish in a corridor, a chair or be forced to endure intimate examinations in public areas. This investigation must shed more light on the scale and impact of these shocking conditions and mark the beginning of the end for this unacceptable practice.
“We will be encouraging nursing staff to take part in the investigation and share their experiences. But we are clear that ministers shouldn’t wait for this investigation to conclude before taking action to eradicate corridor care. That includes publishing national level data on how widespread the issue really is, which the government still fails to do
“With the support of health leaders and ministers, this investigation could be a significant moment for patient safety. Alongside new investment to bolster the nursing workforce, there is hope that we can transform patient care.’
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Notes to editors
The RCN's corridor care report from January - Corridor care: 'Devastating testimony' shows patients are coming to harm | News | Royal College of Nursing
HSSIB 'temporary care environments' notice: Patient care in temporary care environments
