Patients are collapsing in hospitals, unseen by staff because overcrowding leaves them out of sight in corridors, NHS security has said.
The use of hallways, storage areas, and gyms as additional care areas poses significant risks to patients, including falls, infections, and lack of oxygen. Health This was reported by the Services Security Investigations Body (HSSIB).
NHS staff told the inquiry that some patients who ended up on a trolley or bed in congested areas were not assessed or started on treatment “and may therefore be at increased risk of deterioration of their condition, which may go undetected or be detected late in respite care settings”, the HSSIB report said.
He stressed that patients in these areas risk not receiving timely care if their condition worsens and they require emergency medical attention.
“Several nurses expressed concerns about patient safety when calling for help and responding to medical emergencies in temporary care settings,” the report states.
“They said this was because the patient may be at the end of the corridor and in many cases out of sight of the central part of the emergency department.
“The investigation was told of a number of incidents of patients collapsing in temporary care facilities,” HSSIB said. While their presence in the overflow area did not affect the outcome, “there were concerns about the impact it had on the timeliness of the emergency response.”
Royal College of Nursing, who last year warned that patients in the corridors were dyingsaid the report was a “compelling indictment” of what HSSIB said was the increasingly routine use of corridor care.
Some hospitals are so concerned about the potential for harm that they have installed emergency bells in crowded areas so patients and staff can raise the alarm in the event of an emergency, HSSIB said.
Installing bells, power sockets for medical equipment and mini nursing stations in congested areas makes them “calmer” and more organized for patients and staff, HSSIB says.
But other hospitals are not taking these steps because they do not want care in such spaces, which can also include offices and family rooms, to become “normalized,” it added.
The HSSIB also found that while some hospitals try to ensure patients spend no more than an hour in temporary care, due to a shortage of beds this can take several days.
According to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, which represents emergency physicians, More than 16,600 people died in England last year as a direct result of delays in finding them a bed after arriving at the emergency department.
NHS England says corridor care is “unacceptable and should never be considered standard”. Wes Streeting, Minister of Health, pledged to end the practice by 2029.although NHS staff are skeptical he will do it.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “No one should receive help in the corridor.
“The situation we have inherited is unacceptable and undignified and we are determined to end it. That is why NHS England is working closely with trusts to reduce disparities, eliminate inconsistencies, improve data collection and reduce discharge delays, together with social care colleagues.”
“Staff are under enormous pressure and this report highlights the dedication and professionalism of those who keep patients safe and provide them with the best possible care.”
