'Deeply upsetting' corridor care is region's worst

Patients were treated in corridors at Basildon Hospital's emergency department on more than 850 occasions in June, new figures have revealed.

Latest data shows this happened on average 29 times a day, the worst in the NHS's eastern region.

By contrast two other hospitals belonging to the same NHS trust, Southend and Broomfield, recorded no instances of corridor care during the same period.

The hospital's interim managing director, Dr Maimuna Mushabe, said the trust was working to eliminate the problem with new funding.

The figures were disclosed at Thurrock Council's Adult Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee, where pressures facing Basildon Hospital were discussed as part of the trust's improvement plan.

Mushabe told the panel measures were now in train to "move people through the system more quickly".

She said the aim was to reduce pressure on the emergency department (ED), including improvements to ambulance offloading facilities.

"We applied for some funding because the area where ambulances currently offload patients is not adequate," she added.

Mushabe continued: "The buildings are very old and need refurbishment. We are also carrying out repairs to the roof of the emergency department. Hopefully, with all of those interventions, we should be able to eliminate corridor care."

According to the latest data the Mid and South Essex NHS Trust had the most instances of corridor care across the east of England due to Basildon Hospital's performance.

The June figures showed a deterioration compared to the previous month.

In May the trust recorded an average of 23 instances of corridor care in ED per day with 709 across the month.

However, Denise Townsend, the trust's deputy chief nurse, said they had "significantly reduced the number of patients who are receiving care in corridors and escalation spaces across our emergency departments" since the beginning of the year.

"There has been no corridor care in Southend ED since March, no patients are being treated in corridors in Broomfield ED either," she added.

Terri Sargent, Basildon council's Conservative cabinet member for health and inclusion, described the figures as "deeply upsetting".

She said she sympathised with patients and their families, while also paying tribute to hospital staff dealing with increasing demand.

"Basildon Hospital is facing significant pressures, not least because of our ageing population," she said.

The trust is facing a £78.7m deficit this financial year as it looks to save £107m.

At the panel meeting, Reform UK councillor Oscar Ellis asked whether the trust could continue improving patient care while delivering these cost reductions.

Dr Mushabe said the trust's improvement plans depended on teams working together across the organisation to improve services and patient outcomes.

Do you have a story suggestion for Essex? Contact us below.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.