1. Number of patients treated in corridor or other non-standard areas within the Emergency Department
Please note that the term “corridor care” is not a formally recognised model of care within the NHS. However, activity has been recorded in temporary or non-standard spaces during periods of significant pressure and escalation, to ensure that patients remain within a clinically supervised and safe environment.
- 2023/24 – 18,006 out of 239,031 attendances (7.53%)
- 2024/25 – 27,845 out of 279,252 attendances (9.97%)
Important context:
In June 2023, the Trust transitioned to an Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system. This changed the way in which location and activity data is captured and recorded. The improved accuracy and consistency of recording following implementation of the EPR system may have contributed to differences seen between periods, and figures may therefore not be directly comparable with data collected prior to implementation.
The increase also reflects ongoing system-wide pressure on urgent and emergency care, including increased attendances, delays in discharge, and availability of acute inpatient beds.
2. Types of non-clinical areas where patients may be temporarily cared for
During periods of escalation, patients may be temporarily cared for in non-standard but clinically supervised areas, for example:
- Designated escalation areas (wards)
- Circulation spaces (such as corridors)
- Other temporary spaces within the Emergency Department footprint
These areas are only used when no appropriate treatment cubicles are immediately available and are subject to risk assessment, oversight and defined safety processes.
3. Whether the Trust employs dedicated staff to work specifically in corridor areas
The Trust does not employ doctors, nurses or other staff whose role is specifically to work in corridors or other non-standard clinical areas.
However, during periods of operational pressure, including escalation in line with OPEL levels, the Trust follows formal escalation and surge processes. These include the implementation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which sets out:
- How areas may be repurposed on a temporary basis
- The minimum staffing and skill mix required
- Clinical oversight and leadership arrangements
- Safety, safeguarding and dignity considerations
- Clear lines of accountability and review
This ensures that any patients who are temporarily located in non-standard areas continue to receive appropriate, safe and supervised care.
4. Whether the Trust has policies to reduce care in non-standard areas
Whilst the Trust does not have a single standalone policy solely focused on “corridor care”, the prevention and reduction of care in non-standard environments is a key objective embedded within multiple operational frameworks, including:
- The Trust’s OPEL framework and escalation policy
- The Urgent and Emergency Care Improvement Programme
- The Patient Flow and Discharge Programme
- Daily operational, escalation and surge management processes
These frameworks are designed to:
- Maintain safe patient flow through the Emergency Department
- Reduce exit block and improve inpatient discharge
- Expand and maximise Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) and ambulatory pathways
- Minimise the time patients spend in non-standard environments
- Prioritise patient dignity, privacy and safety at all times
During periods of high demand, escalation processes are reviewed regularly and de-escalated as soon as additional capacity becomes available.
