Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department provides on the treatment of orthopaedic patients in non-designated clinical areas.

The Department has made no specific assessment of the potential impact of corridor care on patient safety for patients requiring orthopaedic treatment.

NHS England has published updated guidance in December 2025 to support trusts to deliver care in non-designated clinical spaces safely, ensuring dignity and privacy is maintained, which applies across all specialities, including orthopaedics, and which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/principles-for-providing-patient-care-in-corridors/

Patients are to be seen based on clinical need, not location, with a senior clinical risk assessment and named nursing oversight.

The delivery of care in non-designated clinical areas in hospital departments experiencing patient crowding is not acceptable and should not be considered as standard. NHS England has been working with trusts to put in place new reporting arrangements related to the use of corridor care, to drive improvement. In March this year, NHS England set out a clear national definition of corridor care alongside further actions for trusts and integrated care boards, establishing the first consistent national standard and ensuring clarity of patients, staff, and providers, and setting clear expectations for immediate action. Daily reporting using the new definition began in March 2026, giving real-time visibility of pressures and allowing targeted action.