Corridor care ‘endemic’ in Welsh A&Es as RCEM research reveals shocking reality

Every Emergency Department in Wales is caring for people in corridors new data from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) has revealed.

The survey asked clinicians to record various data points including how many patients were in the department, how many were being treated in corridors and in ambulances, and how many were waiting to be admitted.

The findings, published today (24 March 2025), reveal that all 12 EDs in Wales had people being treated in corridors or waiting areas, and on at least one of the three sample days, all had patients being cared for in the back of ambulances.

In total 44% of patients in departments at the time were waiting for an in-patient bed.

The results revealed that:

• 12 out of 12 Welsh EDs had patients being treated in corridors
• Of the average total of 619 patients present in EDs at the time, 13.5% were being treated on trolleys in corridors and other inappropriate spaces.
• A further 10.7% of patients in waiting areas were deemed as needing a clinical space.
• 43.9% (272) of all patients were waiting for an inpatient bed.

Every ED’s cubicles were full, with the average cubicle occupancy being 176%. The highest being 278% in one department where there were 75 patients and just 27 cubicles.

Responding to the findings RCEM Vice President Wales, Dr Rob Perry, said: “Recently the Welsh Government said that compromising the quality of care, privacy, or dignity of patients only happens on ‘occasions when the NHS faces exceptional pressure’.

“Well our research clearly shows that exceptional pressure is now the everyday norm in Wales’ Emergency Departments.

“And this must not be dismissed as just being down to but the annual seasonal upsurge. I am confident the results would be similar which ever time of the year we undertook this survey.

“These findings should shock and shame the Government into action.

“So called ‘corridor care’ is dangerous, degrading, dehumanising and it is now endemic here in Wales. Addressing it and its causes must be a political priority, and it must act now.”

Read full story

Source: Royal College of Emergency Medicine, 24 March 2025