Imagine being treated in a hospital corridor. That’s the shocking reality for many in the NHS. A major investigation is now underway into ‘corridor care,’ exposing a critical patient safety issue. Will this inquiry finally bring the change desperately needed for our healthcare system?

The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) has initiated a critical and far-reaching inquiry into the alarming practice of ‘corridor care’ within NHS hospitals across England. This significant move comes as a direct response to sustained campaigning by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), highlighting a severe erosion of patient safety and dignity within the healthcare system. The investigation aims to meticulously examine the widespread use of makeshift patient environments, such as hospital corridors, for essential treatment and recovery, shining a much-needed light on the **healthcare crisis** unfolding in the UK.

This comprehensive investigation will delve into various facets of corridor care, focusing intensely on the patient experience and the profound impact on staff. HSSIB plans to engage extensively with patients, their families, and frontline healthcare professionals to gather firsthand accounts and a deeper understanding of the scale and consequences of this practice. The findings are anticipated to be compiled into a detailed report, which will be submitted to the Westminster government by December 2025, providing crucial data for future **UK health policy** reforms.

Central to the RCN’s advocacy is the urgent call for mandatory national reporting on corridor care, a commitment that has been acknowledged but not yet fully implemented. Such reporting would provide invaluable transparency and allow for a clearer picture of the problem’s true prevalence. The HSSIB’s inquiry is expected to underscore the severe patient safety issues inherent in temporary care environments, particularly for vulnerable patient groups who are often the most affected by **hospital overcrowding** and inadequate facilities.

The repercussions of corridor care extend beyond physical discomfort, significantly impacting both patient welfare and staff morale. Patients are often subjected to intimate examinations in public spaces, deprived of privacy and dignity, which can have lasting psychological effects. For nursing staff, the constant pressure of managing patients in unsuitable environments exacerbates existing challenges, contributing to burnout and compromised **nursing standards**, as highlighted by the RCN General Secretary.

To achieve meaningful progress in eradicating this unacceptable practice, the RCN asserts that a fundamental re-evaluation of demand within the acute healthcare sector is imperative. This necessitates a strategic increase in patient capacity in appropriate settings and a robust addressing of the systemic challenges prevalent in primary and social care. A key ambition involves prioritizing and adequately funding the shift of care into community settings, reducing reliance on overstretched hospital facilities and improving overall patient welfare.

Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, powerfully articulated the gravity of the situation, stating that the investigation is a testament to the courage of thousands of nursing staff who bravely exposed the collapse in care standards. She emphasized that no patient should ever endure treatment in a corridor or be forced into public examinations. This **healthcare investigation** is seen as a pivotal moment, with the potential to transform patient care if supported by health leaders and ministers through new investment in the nursing workforce.

While the HSSIB investigation is currently focused on England, the crisis of corridor care is a pervasive issue across the entire UK. Hospitals nationwide are grappling with a system under immense strain, pushing medical professionals into increasingly untenable situations. Northern Ireland, for instance, has committed to recording and reporting on corridor care from June 2025, demonstrating a growing national awareness and collaborative efforts to tackle these complex **medical ethics** challenges.