NHS Confederation responds to new data from the Liberal Democrats on corridor care

Responding to new data from the House of Commons Library, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats that found there were over 163,000 ‘trolley waits’ of 12 hours or more this winter, Rory Deighton, acute director of the NHS Confederation, said:  

“The data is yet more evidence of the immense pressure the NHS has been under this winter. Despite the hard work of health leaders and their teams, they have had to make very difficult decisions over the best way to manage rising demand and keep patients safe. This includes treating patients in corridors and other parts of the hospital that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.  

“Corridor care is a last resort, but the combination of increased demand and acuity following a decade of underinvestment in the NHS, combined with a dearth of social care provision has left NHS staff with little choice.  

“Staff have been doing all they can to mitigate the risks to patients, but they know this is frustrating for patients and their families, with NHS staff also being subject to the moral injury of being unable to provide the care they would like to.  

"It will take time to put the right measures in place to eradicate the need for corridor care going forward, however is clear that the NHS must not be allowed to experience another crisis hit winter again especially against the looming backdrop of cuts to both hospital and ICB budgets. We look forward to working with the government on implementing the forthcoming urgent and emergency care recovery plan.”