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An 87-year-old woman, Bernie McGrogan, spent 15 hours on a trolley in a hospital corridor, an experience her family has described as both “grim” and “heartbreaking.” Bernie, who was immobile and incontinent, died at home with family members around her in October of last year. Her daughter, Fiona McAreavey, recounted the ordeal to BBC News NI, explaining that her mother’s prolonged wait in the emergency department deeply affected their view of hospital care. This personal story highlights wider issues flagged by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which warns that corridor care is becoming increasingly common across UK hospitals, and that the enduring strain on Northern Ireland’s healthcare staff is severely damaging morale.
Fiona expressed profound frustration not only over how her mother was treated but also with the broader state of health services in Northern Ireland. “I feel very angry at the politicians, I don’t think they are doing enough, I don’t think they care, we are just going round in circles,” she stated. The Department of Health acknowledged the complexity of pressures facing emergency departments, emphasizing that there is no simple solution. They believe that the only sustainable way to improve is to reduce and manage demand differently over the medium to long term. Despite the challenges, the department pledged to continue managing care quality as effectively as possible amid difficult circumstances.
When Bernie was admitted to the emergency department, Fiona described the setting as “grim,” particularly the space allocated for elderly patients. The designated area contained only a few cubicles that were vastly insufficient for the number of patients present. Bernie was placed on a trolley just outside this area, where she remained for 15 hours. Fiona raised concerns about the lack of privacy and dignity in such conditions, revealing that when her mother needed assistance with changing, a cubicle had to be specially secured along with a nurse to provide care. Despite the strain on resources, Fiona insisted that the medical staff were “doing a good job” and continuously busy, though the environment itself was distressing for her mother.
The ordeal left Bernie unwilling to return to hospital, a sentiment that led her to sign a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. “We knew that, in a way, that was the beginning of the end,” Fiona reflected. Bernie passed away at home a month later. Having spent her life as a midwife, nurse, and primary school teacher dedicated to helping others, Fiona found it heartbreaking to see her mother receive such minimal care during her final days. The ongoing crisis with corridor care has been widely condemned by nursing professionals as well. Professor Rita Devlin, the executive director of the RCN in Northern Ireland, described the situation as “soul-destroying,” highlighting the detrimental impact on both patient wellbeing and staff morale. She outlined how the noisy and overstimulating corridor settings can cause confusion and delirium in elderly patients while stripping away their privacy and dignity. Staff frequently feel “embarrassed, ashamed and losing hope that things will change,” emphasizing the urgent need for investment in beds, nursing staff, community services, and social care to address the problem effectively
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