The alarming state of NHS corridor care has come under intense scrutiny following the death of a woman left unattended on a trolley at Arrowe Park Hospital's A&E unit. This tragic incident has prompted four Labour MPs—Angela Eagle, Justin Madders, Alison McGovern, and Matthew Patrick—to demand immediate reforms from the Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. In a joint letter, the MPs expressed their deep concerns over the pressures faced by the hospital and requested a follow-up meeting to discuss necessary changes.

The issue of corridor care is not isolated to Arrowe Park. A BBC analysis revealed that in 2025, one in ten patients at major A&E units in England endured waits exceeding 12 hours. This statistic underscores the ongoing crisis within the NHS, which has been exacerbated by overcrowding and insufficient resources. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has described the situation as "a type of torture," with reports of patients being treated in makeshift areas such as dining rooms and staff kitchens.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has acknowledged the severity of the problem, committing to end corridor care by 2029. However, many NHS staff remain skeptical, citing frequent overloads in hospitals. The Department of Health and Social Care has responded by investing £450 million to expand urgent and emergency care services, aiming to alleviate some of the pressures.

First-hand accounts from nurses paint a grim picture of the current state of care. One nurse recounted the death of a patient who choked undetected in a corridor, while others shared their distress over the indignity faced by patients left waiting for extended periods. Prof Nicola Ranger, RCN's general secretary, emphasized the "devastating human consequences" of corridor care, calling for immediate action to address these unacceptable conditions.