NMC responds to RCN report on nurses providing corridor care

Published on 16 January 2025

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has published a report that highlights how nurses are delivering care in unsafe and overcrowded environments due to overwhelming pressures on the NHS.

Sam Donohue, Assistant Director for the national and regional outreach at the NMC and a registered nurse, said:

“The testimony shared by nursing professionals in today’s report is profoundly concerning. People receiving care in unsuitable and unsafe environments, such as corridors and converted cupboards, highlights the immense pressures on our health system. It is unacceptable that anyone is denied dignity, safety, and proper treatment.

"We know the current conditions in health and social care are incredibly tough, and we recognise the significant impact this is having on professionals. Understandably, many will feel uncertain or distressed about the care they’re able to provide. It’s important to remember that the Code is there to guide your professional judgment, even in challenging circumstances, and that concerns are raised about only a small minority of professionals each year. When this happens, we always take the context in which care is delivered into account.

“On behalf of the NMC, I want to thank every nurse, midwife, and nursing associate for the essential work you do under extraordinary pressures every day. Your employer has a duty of care to support you, so please speak to your managers and leaders if you are struggling. It’s crucial, now more than ever, that you are supported to look after your own health and wellbeing, so you can provide the best possible care for others.”


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