UK nurses say patients dying in hospital corridors
Patients are losing their lives in hospital corridors, and pregnant women are suffering miscarriages in side rooms as hospitals in the UK face unprecedented challenges, nurses have revealed.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) on Thursday shared alarming findings from over 5,000 of its members across the UK, highlighting how cupboards, car parks, bathrooms, and nursing stations were being repurposed into makeshift care areas this winter.
These conditions are putting lives at risk, according to nurses, who reported struggling to access critical equipment like oxygen, heart monitors, and suction devices.
The lack of space and time to perform emergency procedures, such as CPR, further exacerbates the crisis. Shockingly, nearly seven in 10 nurses (66.8%) admitted to delivering care in "overcrowded or unsuitable places" daily, the report said.
The RCN’s report, spanning over 400 pages, exposed the heavy burden placed on staff. In some cases, a single nurse and a healthcare assistant were tasked with caring for 20 to 30 patients in cramped corridors.
"This testimony from frontline nurses paints a deeply troubling picture of the harm happening every single day," said RCN General Secretary Nicola Ranger.
"We need health leaders to take responsibility and release transparent data on how many patients are being treated in these dire conditions. The public has a right to know the truth about patient safety."
Adding to the strain, the NHS now has approximately 7.5 million people on its waiting list, with over three million experiencing delays longer than 18 weeks for treatment.
Last week, more than 20 NHS trusts declared critical incidents as rising flu cases and harsh winter weather overwhelmed hospitals.
NHS England Chief Nursing Officer Duncan Burton called the situation "one of the toughest the NHS has experienced," emphasizing the relentless pressures brought by increasing demand.
The RCN first raised the alarm in June 2024, declaring a "national emergency" over hospital overcrowding and unsafe care environments.
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