Medics told the Royal College of Doctors that the issue has affected patient safety.
Polls show that nearly four of the five NHS doctors have been forced to provide care to hallways, chairs and waiting rooms over the past month.
Medix told the Royal College of Parker Kill (RCP) that the issue has affected patient safety, privacy and dignity, and describes corridor care as a “tragedy.”
A snapshot survey of 961 Medics across the UK found that 78% had provided care in a temporary environment over the past month.
Of the 889 doctors who provided further details about where care was given, about 45% said they described corridors and 27% said they had been delivered in additional beds or chairs in the patient’s bay.
Approximately 13% said they provided care in the ward without a dedicated bed space, while 9% were caring for the patient in the waiting room.
Another 4.5% said they used spaces “not designed for patient care” such as bathrooms.
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Dr. John Dean, clinical vice president of RCP, said: “These findings confirm what doctors across the NHS already know: Caring for Coridor is becoming more and more routine and that is simply unacceptable.
“Treating patients in inappropriate spaces undermines dignity, safety and quality of care, while also putting a huge burden on staff.
“Doctors don’t need to resuscitate patients in blocked corridors or monitor patients as they spend their last time in disrespect.”
Nine in ten doctors said they would provide care at these locations to undermine the privacy and dignity of patients, with three-quarters having difficulty accessing critical equipment and facilities.
Six in 10 (58%) said patient safety was directly violated.
One Medic responded to the poll, said: “Several patients died directly as a result of not being in the appropriate clinical area, because there was no room for them, not in the corridor trolley, not in the resus.”
Another described caring for the hallway as a “tragedy.”
The poll follows a terrible report published in January by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). This stated that patients were dying in the hallways and were not found for several hours while sometimes sick people were left to taint themselves.
Experience from over 5,000 nursing staff across the UK was collected for a 460-page document.
Last year, NHS England said it would begin recording data on the use of temporary escalation spaces in all NHS trusts starting in January 2025.
Dean added: “The NHS England decision to begin recording data on this crisis is a step in the right direction, but it needs to be made public and acted urgently.
“System reforms are needed to protect patient safety to expand capacity, improve patient flow, protect patient safety, and ensure corridor care is eliminated.”
Patricia Marquis, executive director of RCN, said:
“They are just very aware of the devastating effects of treating patients in the hallway, which is disrespectful, unsafe and unacceptable.
“The tragedy is now a year-round problem and a symptom of the NHS of crisis. As the government prepares a 10-year plan for the NHS, we must promise to provide investments to show that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
The Ministry of Health’s Social Care spokesperson said: “It is shocking that corridor care has become a hallmark of the NHS. Despite the best efforts of our staff, patients are receiving unacceptable standards of care.
“The government has taken critical action over the past six months to ease pressure on the NHS, including having staff at the forefront rather than the picket line during the first winter in three years.
“We provide reform and investment through planning for change and we are there for us when the NHS needs it again.”
