Trusts working hard to avoid ‘corridor care’

Age UK has called on the government to come up with a plan to end ‘corridor care’.

Daniel Elkeles, chief executive, NHS Providers, said:

"Nobody in the NHS wants to see ‘corridor care’ become ‘business as usual’.

"Age UK’s examples are shocking.  Elderly people should be in hospital only if that’s the best place for them to be cared for. Lots of elderly patients can be cared for at or closer to home but to do this means we must get on as quickly as possible with the shift to community set out in the government’s 10-year plan.

"Staff in under-pressure services, especially busy A&Es, face huge demand for beds and work very hard to prevent' 'corridor care' all year round. They do all they can in tough conditions to treat patients of all ages and backgrounds in the right places but there are times when stretched NHS trusts are forced to provide care outside wards, having exhausted all options.

"Our new report shows how urgent investment in NHS buildings and equipment is needed to improve capacity."