Health Secretary Yvette Cooper has directed the National Health Service (NHS) to develop immediate plans to eliminate hospital corridor care for children in England. Speaking on Sunday, Cooper announced that new standards for pediatric A&E care would be introduced, and for the first time, data on corridor care would be collected by age.

This initiative comes after the tragic case of two-year-old Finlay Roberts, who died in a hospital corridor in north London in 2024. The case, highlighted on the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg programme, underscored the critical need for improved A&E conditions. The government has previously committed to ending corridor care for all patients by the end of the current parliamentary term, but Cooper emphasized that eradicating it for children would be a top priority.

Corridor care, defined as patients receiving treatment or waiting in non-clinical areas like corridors due to space constraints, is a significant concern. Finlay's father, David Roberts, described the situation as a "terrible mess," recounting how his son was moved from a room back into a corridor during his final hours. Finlay's mother, Liz Roberts, stated that corridor care "robs people of their dignity when they are at their most vulnerable," recalling being asked to administer medication to her son in a corridor.

Cooper apologized to Finlay's parents on behalf of the NHS, stating unequivocally, "No child should be treated in a corridor. No patient should be treated in a corridor." The Whittington Health NHS Trust, where Finlay's case occurred, extended condolences and acknowledged facing "periods of exceptional demand," sometimes leading to care in temporary areas, including corridors. They affirmed that their staff provide care under "extremely challenging conditions."

The Health Secretary also addressed the government's manifesto pledge to ensure 92% of patients begin hospital treatment within 18 weeks of booking an appointment by 2029. Cooper reiterated that this remains a commitment, describing the targets as "stretching" goals. However, this 18-week target has not been met for over a decade.

Cooper announced £140 million in funding to improve urgent care services in England, anticipating a particularly challenging winter. The NHS is currently managing significant pressure, with record A&E admissions following summer heatwaves. Latest figures show approximately 7.37 million treatments were awaiting completion for 6.24 million patients by the end of August.

Earlier on Friday, various health groups, including Age UK, Marie Curie, and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), had expressed their concerns about corridor care in a joint letter to the government. These organizations represent vulnerable patient groups and healthcare professionals directly impacted by the issue.

The focus on children's corridor care highlights a growing recognition of the specific vulnerabilities and needs of young patients within the healthcare system. The collection of age-specific data is expected to provide a clearer picture of the scale of the problem for children and inform targeted interventions.