Emergency doctors have criticised NHS guidance on how patients should be treated in hospital corridors. They fear that new guidance normalises a dangerous situation and that caring for patients in corridors should be a last resort. NHS England, which uses the jargon term ‘temporary escalation spaces’ to describe corridors, admits that some hospitals use them more regularly.
![[Hospital corridor with gurneys and bed trolleys]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_233333867-1eda.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) said that it is not possible to give safe and good quality care in cupboards and walkways. They added that they create long waiting times in emergency departments and pay little regard to patients’ dignity and confidentiality.
Guidance from the NHS suggests staff how can deliver the ‘safest, most effective and highest quality care possible’ in temporary spaces. But it also goes on to say that corridor care is ‘not acceptable and should not be considered as standard.’.
The RCEM said the use of corridors in emergency departments leads to longer waits which is ‘associated with measurable harm to patients.’. Proper rest and sleep are also ‘difficult, if not impossible’ for patients in temporary spaces. To make matters worse, infection control is ‘not possible’ and it is ‘challenging’ for staff to monitor patients in corridors, the RCEM said, adding that giving patients the treatment they need is ‘made more difficult and often delayed.’.
