Health Secretary Urges NHS to Accelerate End of Hospital 'Corridor Care' for Children

According to BBC UK, the health secretary has requested that the NHS develop urgent strategies to hasten the cessation of hospital 'corridor care' for children. The government has pledged to end corridor care for all patients by the end of this parliament, and the health secretary stated that eradicating it for children would be a priority. The health secretary was also asked if the government would meet a key manifesto pledge that 92% of patients would start treatment within 18 weeks of booking a hospital appointment by 2029. During a Sunday discussion with Laura Kuenssberg, Ivet Cooper informed the BBC that new standards for children's care in A&E in England would be established, and figures related to corridor care by age would be collected for the first time. This discussion highlighted the case of two-year-old Finlay Roberts, who died in 2024 after spending several hours in a hospital corridor in north London before being discharged.

The health secretary announced a funding of £140m to enhance urgent care across England, ahead of what she described as a winter that would be more challenging than usual. The 18-week target has consistently not been met for more than a decade. The government had already made a pledge to conclude corridor care for all patients by the conclusion of this parliament, and Cooper stated that prioritizing the eradication of this practice for children would be the focus.

Corridor care is defined as patients receiving treatment or waiting in areas such as corridors or waiting rooms within a hospital due to a lack of suitable space.

Finlay Roberts' death was highlighted on the programme, occurring after he was discharged from a hospital in north London in 2024 following hours spent in an A&E corridor. Correction 18 October 2026: This article and this note have been updated after earlier versions incorrectly stated the location of Finlay Roberts' death. Finlay's father, David, told the BBC that the situation was a "terrible mess," noting that the family was moved into a room with a bed before being relocated back to the corridor in north London. He stated that Finlay "just clung to me, as we now know, slowly dying." Finlay's mother, Liz Roberts, commented that corridor care "robs people of their dignity when they are at their most vulnerable," and she recalled being instructed to administer a suppository to her son while he was in the corridor.

Ivet Cooper offered an apology to Finlay's parents on behalf of the NHS, asserting that 'No child should be treated in a corridor. No patient should be treated in a corridor.' No patient should be treated in a corridor.' No patient should be treated in a corridor."

The Whittington Health NHS Trust, where the incident occurred, conveyed its condolences to the family. The Trust mentioned that it continues to experience periods of significant demand across emergency care, and at times, some patients might receive care in temporary clinical areas, including corridors. They stated that their staff work without tiring to provide safe and compassionate care under extremely difficult circumstances.

On Friday, health organizations, including Age UK, Marie Curie, and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), voiced their concerns regarding corridor care by submitting a letter to the health secretary urging her to take action. The letter contended that this practice was fundamentally inconsistent with NHS care standards and would necessitate "whole-system action" to eliminate it.

Cooper announced the £140m funding this weekend to increase urgent care capacity as part of an effort to manage the effects of seasonal illnesses, such as norovirus and flu. This money is designated for 14 initiatives across England, which include upgrades to emergency departments, ambulance fleets, and new urgent care centers.

Shadow health secretary Damian Hinds stated that the government needed to take action but requested an explanation regarding the source of the funding. This announcement follows NHS data indicating that nearly 7.3 million individuals attended A&E in England between June and August, representing the highest figure for a summer period.

Health thinktank the King's Fund cautioned that the service was facing a "twin crisis" as winter approached, with insufficient recovery time for staff and the system between peak periods. Medical director Prof Frankie Swords advised eligible individuals to receive flu vaccinations, noting earlier this month that there were "ominous" signs of winter pressure already impacting hospitals. Swords observed that more patients were presenting to A&E with flu and other respiratory viruses than is typical for this time of year.

RCN England's executive director, Patricia Marquis, acknowledged the extra money as welcome but suggested it would serve as "just another sticking plaster on a system that is at breaking point." She added that the nursing workforce required to deliver these services is already operating with insufficient staff as winter begins.