New survey by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine reveals nearly one in five patients in English Emergency Departments were cared for in corridors or chairs, a “national shame” that highlights severe overcrowding and risk to patient safety
A sweeping new report by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) reveals the shocking truth behind so-called “corridor care”: nearly 19% of patients in major Emergency Departments in England this summer were treated in trolleys or chairs in corridors, with clinicians warning the practice is undignified, unsafe and symptomatic of a health service in crisis.
Emergency care under pressure
Corridor care refers to the practice of providing patient care in non-clinical settings, such as corridors, waiting rooms, or other temporary spaces. It is a visible symptom of the pressures facing the entire NHS system. From shortages of staffed hospital beds to delays in discharging patients, care for patients is being delivered wherever space can be found.
Using data from July 30 to August 13, 2025, the RCEM polled Clinical leads, who oversee A&E, to understand the prevalence of corridor care and the standard of care patients were receiving.
Clinical leads from 58 Type 1 Emergency Departments across England responded and revealed:
- Across the EDs in our sample, 19% of patients were being treated on trolleys or chairs in the corridor. That’s almost one in five attendances that were being cared for in an inappropriate setting, during a summer month, when there has historically been respite available.
- 34.5% of respondents had patients being cared for in ambulances outside their department
- Over three-quarters of respondents (78%) felt patients were coming to harm in their department due to the quality of care that can be delivered under current conditions.
Corridor care: A national shame
Exclusive public polling across Great Britain found that 58% of respondents are not confident that their A&E would provide a timely service, 28% of respondents also said they were not convinced that they would be treated in a clinically appropriate area, and 42% reported hesitancy around attending due to concerns about long waiting times.
Dr Ian Higginson, President of The Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: “This report reveals the reality of so-called ‘corridor care’ in England. Put simply, it’s a source of national shame.
“Every day, patients are counting the hours they have been in ED, on trolleys in corridors, on chairs in unsuitable spaces, or simply in any available spot.
“Emergency Care never used to look like this. It’s incredibly disheartening for those working in our departments, who are doing everything they can to provide care under these conditions – and even more so for the patients through no fault of their own.
“It’s distressing, undignified, and it’s putting lives at risk.
“The situation is a visible sign that the system isn’t operating as it should – whether it is hospitals not operating fully effectively, or the inability to discharge people from wards who are ready to go home, as there aren’t appropriate social care options in place.
“This report, with its recommendations, is essential reading for all politicians, policy makers and healthcare leaders. We need meaningful change before the crisis in our Emergency Departments deteriorates further. Lives depend on it.”
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, who is the Member of Parliament for Tooting, a working Emergency Medicine Doctor, and Chair of the APPG on Emergency Care, said: “In emergency departments across the country, patients are being let down; stuck waiting hours upon hours, with many left to be treated in hospital corridors. It is unsafe, undignified, and symptomatic of an NHS that is stretched, working desperately to support patients but struggling to cope with demand.
“As an A&E doctor, I know my colleagues across the NHS work tirelessly for their patients. Staff are defined by their dedication, empathy and steadfast commitment to those in their care. In Westminster, we need to match their resolve, support frontline staff and give the NHS the resources it needs so that it is always there, free at the point of use, when we need it.
“Every patient deserves privacy, compassion, and high-quality care, not on a trolley in a hallway. Our cross-party group of Parliamentarians looks forward to working collaboratively with the Government, Ministers and NHS leaders to reach our shared goal – ending corridor care for good.”
Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, said: “Too many patients are being left and treated in corridors, waiting rooms and other unsuitable spaces for hours on end, and it’s causing a profound erosion of trust in emergency care. These aren’t just statistics; they’re real people feeling frightened, forgotten and undignified while trying to get help at their most vulnerable moments.
“This report highlights the deep health inequalities in corridor care. The greatest burden falls on people in deprived areas, older people, and those with mental health conditions. It should never be that the very patients who most need compassion and timely care are those far more likely to experience long waits in inappropriate settings.
“Every patient should expect to be treated in a timely, dignified and safe place. We fervently endorse the recommendations in this report and expect to see urgent action to eradicate corridor care.”
