More than half of nurses in the UK have treated patients receiving end-of-life care in hospital corridors or other non-clinical areas, according to a recent report. These findings highlight significant challenges within the healthcare system, including staffing shortages and overcrowding, which are contributing to what health workers describe as undignified deaths and poor quality care.
The survey, conducted by the charity Marie Curie and the nursing website Nursing Standard, polled 1,153 UK nurses and healthcare professionals. The results showed that 55 percent of respondents had cared for patients in corridors or spaces like cupboards and offices. Over seven in ten nurses reported that treatment in areas not designed for end-of-life care compromised patient dignity and caused distress to families.
Barriers to Care
When asked about the barriers to providing adequate care, 72 percent of nurses cited staffing levels as a constraint, while 56 percent identified a lack of time as an issue. The report also revealed problems with care planning, leading to uncertainty and, in some instances, patients being resuscitated against their stated wishes.
More than a third of nurses reported witnessing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) being administered when they felt it was inappropriate. One nurse recounted an instance where CPR was performed on a terminal cancer patient who subsequently died in a bathroom, an event described as undignified and traumatizing for both the family and staff.
Calls for Systemic Change
Sarah Williamson, director of nursing and quality at Marie Curie, emphasized that corridor care is a symptom of a system under strain, with emergency departments becoming a default for some end-of-life crises. She called for the UK Government to implement a fully funded plan to overhaul end-of-life care, ensuring access to 24/7 palliative care, medication, and coordinated support closer to home.
Professor Lynn Woolsey, chief nursing officer at the Royal College of Nursing, stated that receiving care in a hospital corridor is unacceptable, particularly for those at the end of their lives. She noted that these non-clinical areas are unsafe and lack essential equipment, denying both patients and staff necessary resources. Woolsey also highlighted the critical role of district nurses, whose declining numbers have contributed to increased hospital admissions for end-of-life care.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson acknowledged that patients deserve dignified care, not corridor treatment. The department stated its commitment to ending corridor care and mentioned the publication of data to identify areas of pressure. They also indicated plans to improve the understanding and respect of end-of-life care wishes through a Single Patient Record, which will facilitate the sharing of advance care plans across different settings. A new framework for palliative and end-of-life care is expected this autumn, aiming to enhance access to high-quality, personalized care and strengthen advance care planning.