Accident and Emergency Departments: Standards
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many A&E departments are regularly treating patients in corridors; and what steps he is taking to help end this practice.
Answered by Karin Smyth
NHS England began publishing validated corridor care data for the first time on 11 June 2026. The data is published at a trust level and therefore does not identify how many individual accident and emergency departments are regularly treating patients in corridors. The data is available at the following link:
The Government and NHS England are clear that corridor care is unacceptable and should not become a normal part of National Health Service care.
NHS England has introduced a national definition of corridor care and established targeted improvement support for trusts experiencing the highest levels of corridor care. Expert Getting It Right First Time teams are working with local NHS leaders to improve patient flow, strengthen discharge arrangements, and reduce overcrowding. Together these measures will strengthen oversight, improve transparency, and support local action to reduce corridor care.
In addition, the Government and NHS England have provided over £450 million of investment in urgent and emergency care services, helping more patients receive timely care more quickly in the most appropriate setting while reducing overcrowding in emergency departments.
NHS England has also published the Model Emergency Department and the Model Acute Pathway standards for the first 72 hours of care, which support earlier assessment, timely senior clinical review, faster clinical decision-making, and improved patient flow through hospitals.
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