Responding to the latest NHS England performance data Executive Director of RCN England Patricia Marquis said:
“Today’s figures show a corridor care disaster is unfolding in front of our eyes. Near record numbers are languishing on trolleys after being deemed sick enough to be admitted, whilst thousands cannot be discharged due to a lack of community care. The cold weather hasn’t properly arrived, and this situation threatens only to worsen. Nursing staff are again sounding the alarm for patient safety.
“The reality is that a lack of support closer to home is forcing people through the doors of emergency departments. There has been a devastating collapse in community nurse numbers, whilst social care is racked by vacancies and chronic underinvestment. Solving the crisis in A&E starts away from the hospital.
“The NHS publishes the number of patients on trolleys in A&E but not once they are shunted to another area, still on a trolley. There is no transparency about the poor care standards – that has to change.
“The health secretary pledged transparent NHS league tables. Today, he should announce mandatory reporting and release of instances of all ‘corridor care’ in the NHS. We cannot have another winter of patients being put in danger by this unacceptable practice.”
Ends
Notes to editors
NHS England data shows the number of people waiting more than 12 hours in A&E departments in England from a decision to admit to actually being admitted stood at 49,592 in October, up from 38,880 in September and the third highest monthly figure since comparable records began in 2010.
The all-time high for a calendar month is 54,573, which occurred in December 2022.
The number waiting at least four hours from the decision to admit to admission also rose, standing at 148,789 in October, up from 130,632 in September.
