A comprehensive 460-page report by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has unveiled the distressing state of hospitals across the UK, based on testimonies from 5,400 nurses. As the NHS grapples with one of its most severe winter crises, patients find themselves languishing in corridors due to an acute shortage of beds. Hospitals are overwhelmed, with approximately 20 trusts in England declaring "critical incidents" as they struggle to manage the soaring demand for care.
Nurses describe an alarming situation where patients are often stranded on chairs or trolleys for days, unable to access necessary medical care. The overcrowding has led to some receiving treatment in what has been described as "animal-like conditions." Particularly concerning are reports of pregnant women suffering miscarriages in corridors due to the lack of available beds. The absence of call bells means patients cannot summon help when needed, further exacerbating the dire conditions.
Hospital staff report that they face unprecedented challenges, with some leaving their positions due to the emotional strain. The RCN warns that patients routinely suffer harm due to insufficient equipment and staffing levels. Queen's Hospital in Romford, Essex, has resorted to hiring 19 additional nurses to manage care for 50 patients stuck in corridors. Similarly, the Whittington Hospital in north London is recruiting nurses specifically for "corridor care."
Delays in ambulance handovers outside A&E, lasting at least an hour, have reached record numbers. As a result, patients are being diverted to other hospitals when their intended destinations cannot accommodate them. Prof Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England's national medical director, acknowledged the "unprecedented" pressures facing the NHS.
“Increasing levels of demand have resulted in extreme pressures on services, particularly over recent months and one of the toughest winters the NHS has experienced.” – Duncan Barton
Dr. Adrian Boyle expressed deep concern over the current state of care provision:
“I am shocked, appalled and so saddened that this is the level of care we as clinicians are being forced to provide to our patients – people who turn to the NHS and its staff when they are most vulnerable and in need.” – Dr Adrian Boyle
The emotional toll on healthcare workers is palpable. One nurse recounted leaving her department due to overwhelming anxiety and fear for patient safety:
“I ended up leaving department due to overwhelming anxiety and fear of patients dying as physically unable to safely care for them.” – A nurse
There are reports of patients opting to refuse treatment and self-discharge against medical advice because of the distressing conditions:
“refuse treatment and self-discharge against advice due to situation, placing them at risk of significant adverse event” – A nurse
The Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, criticized the normalization of corridor care in NHS hospitals under previous administrations. He vowed to address this long-standing issue:
“became normalised in NHS hospitals under the previous government. It is unsafe, undignified, a cruel consequence of 14 years of failure on the NHS and I am determined to consign it to the history books.” – Wes Streeting
However, he cautioned that resolving these issues would take time:
“I cannot and will not promise that there will not be patients treated in corridors next year. It will take time to undo the damage that has been done to our NHS.” – Wes Streeting
The impact on both patients and staff is significant, as highlighted by Duncan Barton:
“The impact this has on the experiences of patients and staff, as highlighted by the RCN report, should never be considered the standard to which the NHS aspires.” – Duncan Barton
The report reveals harrowing incidents, such as a patient who died unnoticed in a corridor for hours:
“a patient died in the corridor but wasn’t discovered for hours” – A nurse
Prof Nicola Ranger emphasized the gravity of the situation:
“Patients are coming to harm every day. We can now categorically say patients are dying in this situation.” – Prof Nicola Ranger