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Health Secretary Yvette Cooper has emphasized the urgent need for the NHS to prevent children from receiving treatment in hospital corridors. Speaking to the BBC, Cooper revealed she has tasked NHS England with swiftly developing plans to eradicate “corridor care” for children, along with establishing new guidelines on how pediatric cases should be handled in Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments. She made clear her conviction that children’s healthcare must be given higher priority within the NHS.
The appeal for action comes after more than a dozen health organizations called on Cooper to address the problem of corridor care. Official figures reveal that, in September, over 50,000 patients waited more than 12 hours from the time a decision was made to admit them to A&E until they were actually admitted—a rise from nearly 45,000 in August. Cooper also mentioned that changes would be made in how this data is reported, with a focus on including specific statistics for children. She reiterated the government’s commitment to ending corridor care more broadly by the close of the current parliamentary term, stating unequivocally: “No child should be treated in a corridor. No patient should be treated in a corridor.”
Ahead of her interview with Laura Kuenssberg, Cooper warned that the NHS anticipates a particularly challenging winter season. This concern follows an exceptionally busy summer in England, influenced by several heatwaves that increased demand on the health service. To help address seasonal illnesses such as flu and norovirus, Cooper announced a £140 million investment aimed at expanding urgent care capacity. These funds will support 14 projects across England, including the creation of new urgent care centers, the enhancement of ambulance services, and improvements to emergency departments.
Reactions to the funding announcement were mixed. While shadow health secretary Damian Hinds acknowledged the necessity for government action, he sought clarity on the origins of the additional funds. Similarly, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in England welcomed the financial boost but criticized it as a temporary fix. Patricia Marquis, executive director of RCN England, described the funding as “just another sticking plaster on a system that is at breaking point,” highlighting the severe staff shortages facing nursing personnel going into winter. NHS officials continue to urge eligible individuals to receive flu vaccinations amid rising pressure; NHS medical director Professor Frankie Swords noted early “ominous” signs of strain on hospitals, with more patients presenting A&E with respiratory viruses than usual for this time of year. Meanwhile, waiting lists for routine hospital treatments have grown, reaching levels not seen since October 2025, raising doubts about the NHS meeting the government’s target of treating 92% of patients within 18 weeks by 2029
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