Shock Poll: Nurses Provide End-of-Life Care in Corridors Amid NHS Crisis

A shocking new survey has revealed that more than half of nurses and healthcare professionals across the UK have been forced to administer end-of-life care to patients in hospital corridors or other non-clinical areas. This alarming finding underscores the severe pressures facing the National Health Service (NHS), with staffing shortages and time constraints cited as major barriers to providing dignified care.

The joint poll by Marie Curie and Nursing Standard surveyed 1,153 nurses and healthcare professionals.

The results indicate that 55% of respondents have cared for terminally ill patients in spaces not designed for such sensitive medical attention.

This practice, often referred to as "corridor care," deeply compromises the dignity of patients and causes significant distress to their families and loved ones, a sentiment echoed by over seven in 10 nurses.

The primary culprits behind this distressing situation are a severe lack of staff, identified as a constraint by 72.2% of nurses, and insufficient time, cited by 56.2%. These systemic issues are not only affecting the comfort of dying patients but are also leading to widespread problems in care planning.

Nurses reported instances where a lack of clear planning resulted in uncertainty regarding patients' end-of-life wishes, and in some cases, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) being performed against their expressed desires.

One particularly harrowing account from a nurse involved a terminal cancer patient undergoing CPR inappropriately, only to die on a bathroom floor.

The nurse described the scene as "undignified," leaving the family hysterical and the staff traumatised.

Another poignant example highlighted an older man who felt compelled to carry his paper care plan with him to ensure his wishes regarding medical intervention were respected.

Sarah Williamson, director of nursing and quality at Marie Curie, emphasized the critical nature of these findings, highlighting the urgent need for systemic changes to ensure all patients can experience a dignified end to their lives. The survey paints a grim picture of an NHS struggling to cope, where the most vulnerable patients are receiving care in undignified circumstances due to a healthcare system under immense strain.

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