Ending corridor care
How and why to call it out
Corridor care is bad for patients and bad for health care staff.
Treating people in inappropriate spaces is unsafe, undignified and unacceptable.
We brought together a coalition of trade unions, professional bodies, charities and patient groups to write to the UK government and NHS England to demand action and the introduction of mandatory reporting to improve patient care.
We’ve also published a devastating report sharing the experiences of our members who are being forced to deliver care in inappropriate settings, detailing the negative impact on them and their patients.
Corridor care must not be normalised. If it is happening at your workplace, we’ll support you to raise concerns.
Nothing about corridor ‘care’ resembles caring
Just one patient being treated without privacy or dignity is one too many. But our members tell us that they're forced to examine and treat patients in public spaces, often with no access to life-saving equipment.
Patients are left feeling exposed, vulnerable and violated. Nursing staff are left feeling stressed, powerless and ready to leave the profession.
This goes beyond corridors. We're seeing patients receiving care in car parks and break rooms, and being triaged in storerooms. It goes beyond hospitals too. We're seeing cases in primary and social care, public health and even criminal justice settings. Every one of our half a million members should feel empowered to call it out when they see it.
Call it out to stamp it out
If you deliver corridor care
Report it as an incident
The NMC Code requires you to report concerns immediately through a Datix or other local incident form. If nursing staff consistently report corridor care, decision makers should take notice.
If you receive corridor care
Complain to your care provider
We can't allow corridor care to be overlooked and normalised. That's why we urge patients and the public to make a complaint if it happens to you. There are several ways to make a complaint.
Get informed
Use our resources to equip yourself with the knowledge and tools you need to challenge unsafe practices in your workplace:
Our reports on corridor care
Our reports, based on member experiences, show the true scale and depth of the corridor care crisis – from its shocking impact on patients to its effect on workplaces.
We highlight a system in crisis and set out avenues for change.
- January 2025: On the frontline of the UK’s corridor care crisis
- June 2024: Corridor care: unsafe, undignified, unacceptable
Want to get involved? Become a Health and Safety rep
Watch: "Staff are at breaking point"
Our General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger explains the devastating impact of corridor care on nursing staff and patients and calls on governments to take bold action to recover patient care by investing in the NHS and building a strong nursing workforce.
Latest news on corridor care
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3 Feb 2025
Corridor care: public backs RCN demands for swift government action
We're reiterating calls for urgent intervention as a poll finds half of the public think it should take the government no longer than a year to solve the corridor care crisis, if it acts now
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16 Jan 2025
Corridor care: 'Devastating testimony' shows patients are coming to harm
RCN report reveals harrowing statements from thousands of nursing staff, showing how widespread the issue is across the UK.
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13 Jan 2025
Corridor care: RCN-led coalition demands transparency and mandatory reporting
The UK government must urgently tackle the issue of care in corridors, cupboards and car parks and introduce mandatory reporting to improve patient care and experience as we bring together a coalition of trade unions, professional bodies, charities and patient groups to campaign on the issue.
