Corridor care and no privacy: Inside A&E at the height of the NHS winter crisis

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Jennifer Walker, left, in the morning operations meeting at Newham Hospital “We’ve seen patients extended in A&E for a long time, a really long time sometimes; we’ve seen higher numbers of patients needing services like mental health in A&E; we’ve seen an increase in children in A&E from respiratory illness; and we’ve had a really difficult time with flu. open image in gallery It has been a busy winter season at hospitals across the country Professor Julian Redhead, NHS national clinical director for urgent and emergency care, said: “The twin pressures of winter viruses and problems discharging patients means hospitals are close to full – even as more beds have been opened to manage the increased demand.” One of the biggest issues with space in the emergency department is finding beds on hospital wards for patients who are critically ill. Finding those beds is the job of Walker and her operations team, matching the right patient to the right bed and ensuring that discharges happen safely but swiftly. Sarah Nunn, a consultant in emergency medicine, says it can be “really demoralising” when patients are waiting a long time for care, or they are seen in spaces that are not meant for treating people, but the thing that keeps staff going is knowing they are doing their utmost for patients despite the challenging circumstances. open image in gallery Sarah Nunn says it is hard not being able to provide perfect care for patients Morgan, the clinical lead, says: “Whatever’s going on, the thing that we still have in our power is to be as kind as we can to people, and make sure we do still give them the care that is within our power.” And people should always seek help if they think they need it, adds deputy nursing director Davies.