MORE THAN 2,000 patients were cared for in hospital corridors or makeshift treatment areas in England every day last month, according to official data.

NHS England published figures on “corridor care” for the first time today, covering treatments that do not take place in a clinically appropriate and safe setting.

An average of 2,241 incidents per day in May saw the patient receiving corridor care for more than 45 minutes at hospital A&E departments.

This includes patients receiving treatment, waiting for assessment, admission or transfer, but not delays involving ambulances handing over patients to A&E staff.

There were a further 699 instances on average each day last month of patients receiving corridor care for more than 45 minutes inside hospital wards.

Siva Anandaciva, of the King’s Fund health think tank, said: “These figures confirm the scale of something that should never have been normalised in the NHS.

“Patients are routinely being treated in hospital corridors, without privacy or dignity. Pressure across the whole health and care system is spilling into A&E.

“The sheer scale of corridor care in the NHS is deeply concerning, equating to three in every 100 who attended an accident and emergency department every day.”

Unison head of health Helga Pile called the data “a step in the right direction” but warned it fails to tell the whole story.

“Many more people are also trapped in ambulances waiting outside emergency departments,” she said.

“Car park and corridor care compromise the privacy and dignity of people who are sick and vulnerable.

“Sheer demand and the crisis in social care mean the NHS is struggling to deliver the quality of care patients need and staff want to give.

“The NHS cannot be expected to continue in this way. Proper investment and a long-term response are needed to address staffing shortages.”

She called a national care service “essential” in resolving “the social care bottleneck.”

Health Secretary James Murray said: “Corridor care is unacceptable, undignified and has no place in our NHS.

“That is why, for the first time, we are publishing this data to shine a spotlight on where the problems are greatest and ensure trusts get the support they need.

“We have already deployed expert teams to help struggling trusts turn performance around.”