Nurses in Welsh hospitals have revealed a shocking report detailing the dire state of patient care, describing it as “unsafe, undignified, and unacceptable”. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) painted a grim picture in their report, highlighting the practice of “corridor care” where patients are often left to die on trolleys in hallways due to overcrowded facilities and high patient demand. According to the report, the lack of appropriate resources and space compromises the safety, dignity, and quality of care provided to patients. The distressing testimonies from nursing staff in Wales and across the UK shed light on the reality of treating patients in inadequate settings.
The RCN’s 460-page report, titled “On the frontline of the UK’s corridor care crisis”, includes 22 pages dedicated to personal accounts from nurses dealing with the challenges of corridor care in Welsh hospitals. Nurses shared heart-wrenching stories of having to inform patients of their terminal conditions in hallways and witnessing patients enduring long waits on uncomfortable chairs. The absence of essential medical equipment, privacy, and proper monitoring in corridors puts patients at risk and takes a toll on nursing staff’s morale and well-being.
The report underscored the emotional burden on nurses who feel helpless and guilty for not being able to provide the level of care patients deserve. Patients treated in corridors receive substandard care, with rushed examinations, delayed medication, and increased risks of falls and infections. The lack of basic amenities like call bells, oxygen, and nearby toilets further exacerbates the dire situation, leaving patients vulnerable and deprived of dignity.
One nurse in Wales lamented, “It feels like you can’t give any of your patients the full care they need and deserve. It’s undignified, there’s no privacy, and sometimes patients are put there without even a handover.” The report highlighted the urgent need for increased resources, expanded facilities, and better workforce planning to ensure patients receive care in suitable and respectful environments. The RCN is calling on the Welsh Government and NHS leaders to address the crisis of corridor care and prioritise patient well-being.
Helen Whyley, the executive director of RCN Wales, emphasised that every patient deserves privacy, dignity, and quality care, urging immediate action to end corridor care practices. The Welsh Government responded by stating that while they do not endorse substandard care, exceptional pressures on the NHS during times of high demand underscore the importance of accessing appropriate care facilities. The government highlighted ongoing efforts to address challenges in urgent and emergency care through national programmes like the Six Goals for Urgent and Emergency Care.
The distressing accounts from nurses reveal the harrowing reality faced by patients and healthcare workers in Welsh hospitals. The call for urgent action to improve conditions, ensure patient safety, and uphold dignity in care must be heeded by policymakers and healthcare leaders. The plight of patients left to languish in corridors underscores the critical need for systemic reforms and investment in healthcare infrastructure and workforce to provide adequate and dignified care to those in need.