Nearly one in five A&E patients are now being treated in corridors and waiting rooms, new research reveals. Experts warn the 'shameful' practice of corridor care has become 'endemic' in the UK.

The study, carried out by Royal College of Emergency Medicine's (RCEM) Trainee Emergency Research Network, looked at five snapshots taken from 165 UK emergency departments in March 2025.

It found 17.7 per cent of patients - more than 10,000 people - were receiving care in 'escalation areas', which are not routinely used for care. This included corridors, waiting rooms, doubled-up cubicles and ambulances waiting outside for more than 15 minutes.

Researchers said the findings represent a 'significant patient safety issue', with experts telling of a case where one patient waited two days for a bed i

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