UK Government budget announcements, NHS official statements

NHS Declares National Emergency as Overcrowding Leads to Corridor Care, Patients Dying

Jun 3, 2024, 06:01 AM

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has declared a 'national emergency' in the NHS due to severe overcrowding in hospitals. According to a survey of 11,000 RCN members, patients are frequently treated in corridors, sometimes for days, and some have even died while waiting for a ward bed. The issue is particularly acute among elderly patients, with data from 48 NHS Trusts in England revealing that a third had elderly patients who waited at least two days for a bed. The RCN has called for immediate action to end 'corridor care' and improve staffing levels to ensure patients receive the dignity and care they need. Patients have also been treated in cupboards and car parks. Without increased funding, the situation is expected to worsen.