Health Secretary Yvette Cooper has directed NHS England to develop urgent plans to eliminate corridor care for children, marking a significant shift in how pediatric emergency services are managed. The directive comes after intense pressure from more than a dozen health organizations and public campaigns highlighting the dangers of treating young patients in hospital hallways.
Cooper told the BBC that no child should be treated in a corridor and that child health needs to become a much greater priority for the National Health Service. She confirmed that the government aims to end corridor care broadly by the end of the current parliament, but has placed immediate focus on pediatric cases.
Tragedy Drives Policy Change
The push for reform was intensified by the case of Finlay Roberts, a two-year-old boy who died in 2024 after spending his final hours in a crowded A&E corridor. His parents, David and Liz Roberts, described the experience as a terrible mess that robbed their son of dignity during his most vulnerable moments.
Liz Roberts recalled being told to administer medication to Finlay in the corridor because no other clinical space was available. After hearing their account, Cooper apologized to the family on behalf of the NHS. The Whittington Health NHS Trust, where the incident occurred, extended its condolences and noted that staff work tirelessly in extremely challenging conditions, though some patients may still receive care in temporary areas during periods of exceptional demand.
Cooper stated clearly that no patient should be treated in a corridor, reinforcing the government’s stance that such practices are incompatible with modern care standards.
System Under Pressure
The announcement arrives as the NHS faces its busiest summer on record, with nearly 7.3 million A&E attendances between June and August in England. Health thinktank the King’s Fund warned of a twin crisis heading into winter, with little time for staff and systems to recover between peak periods.
NHS data shows that the number of people waiting more than 12 hours from the decision to admit to actual admission reached 50,582 in September, up from 44,951 in August. Cooper announced that data collection methods will be updated to include children in these figures, ensuring their experiences are fully reflected in performance metrics.
To address immediate capacity issues, the government has allocated £140 million for 14 schemes across England. These funds will support new urgent care centers, ambulance fleets, and emergency department upgrades. However, critics argue the measures are insufficient. The Royal College of Nursing described the funding as just another sticking plaster on a system at breaking point, noting that the nursing workforce is already running on empty.
Waiting lists for routine hospital treatment have risen for the second consecutive month, with 7.37 million treatments pending at the end of August. NHS leaders are urging eligible individuals to get flu vaccinations as ominous signs of winter pressure begin to affect hospitals.
Source: BBC
