Today, members of the Royal College of Nursing have called for a complete abolishment of corridor care at the College’s annual Congress in Brighton.
RCN members moved to transform a discussion topic into a resolution for voting following passionate testimony on the conference floor that more must be done to abolish corridor care.
Members described corridor care as a ‘blight on our healthcare system’ with overcrowding in A&E – and across other healthcare settings – getting progressively worse over the last 20 years.
Nursing staff spoke about the impact on nurses and the moral injury and distress that can have devastating impacts on staff mental health.
Others spoke about the impact on patients with no dignity or confidentiality for patients. One member even referenced a doctor having to deliver a cancer diagnosis to a patient on a corridor.
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen said:
“Only this morning we released survey findings that unveil the frequency of corridor care in our emergency settings across the NHS.
“This afternoon our members raised their voices in saying we can stand for this no longer. The risk, the insult and the injustice to patients is too great.
“Corridor care is the symptom of a blighted NHS. Extreme staffing shortages bottleneck at every stage of the care system and a government focused on efficiencies and targets is failing to see the wood from the trees.
“Today our members sent a clear message – the RCN will be fighting to end corridor care with more strength than ever before.”
“I would say to every minister please get a grip of this. It needs to be dealt with as a priority because not only are patients suffering but actually every member of nursing staff suffers as a consequence. We urgently need to see ministers put long-term investment into nursing.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
Details about RCN’s survey of Emergency Care Association members about corridor care is available here.
