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London hospital advertises for ‘corridor care’ nurses

Royal College of Emergency Medicine says advertisement is ‘normalising’ patients being treated in the corridors

A LONDON hospital has advertising for “corridor care” nurses because so many A&E patients are being cared for while waiting for beds or treatment.

The 12-hour shifts were advertised by Whittington hospital in north London.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) said the advertisement indicated the “normalising” of patients being treated in the corridors of hospital A&E departments.

After advertising the shifts, Whittington Health NHS Trust said it was experiencing “very significant pressure” in its urgent and emergency care.

Several NHS trusts declared critical incidents at the weekend because of sustained pressure in A&E departments.

Retired paediatrician Dr John Puntis, co-chair of campaign group Keep Our NHS Public, said: “There can be no bleaker illustration of the current state of the NHS than ‘care’ delivered in corridors.

“Winter pressures on an already overstretched service were entirely predictable.

“Six months in power and Labour has done nothing pro-active to alleviate this situation.”

He accused the government of instead “throwing money at the private sector.”

Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said corridor care is “degrading, dehumanising and dangerous.”

“Let me be clear, it is not possible to provide truly safe patient care in environments such as corridors and cupboards,” he said.

The RCEM and Royal College of Nursing have written to Health Secretary Wes Streeting demanding regular data on how many patients are being treated in inappropriate areas, and the risks posed.

A spokesperson for NHS England said: “The NHS is facing unprecedented demand for services but we remain clear that caring for patients in temporary spaces is not acceptable and should never be considered as standard.”

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