New corridor care figures highlight pressures facing NHS services

Healthwatch England has responded to the publication of NHS England's first official figures on corridor care, which show that nearly 3,000 patients a day experienced care in unsuitable settings during May 2026.The figures shine a light on the pressures facing urgent and emergency care services across the country and raise important questions about patient dignity, privacy and safety when hospitals are under significant strain.

While the newly published figures are national, they reflect issues that many patients and families across Bradford District and Craven will recognise. Long waits can have a significant impact on people's experience of care, particularly for older people, those with disabilities, and individuals with complex health conditions.

Healthwatch England has welcomed the publication of the data, saying it provides greater transparency about the scale of corridor care and will help ensure that patient experiences are better understood when decisions are made about NHS services. 

At Healthwatch Bradford and District we regularly hear from local people about their experiences of accessing NHS services, including concerns about long waits for treatment and the challenges faced by busy hospital departments. We believe it is important that the voices of patients, carers and families continue to be heard as the NHS works to address these challenges. Understanding people's real-life experiences is essential to improving care and ensuring services meet the needs of our communities.

If you or someone you care for has experienced long waits in hospital or emergency care services, we would like to hear from you. Your feedback helps us understand what is working well and where improvements may be needed. If you have a few minutes to share your story, click HERE to access our survey.

You can read the full Healthwatch England response here:

https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/response/2026-06-11/corridor-care-hospita…