Written question WQ98819

I am committed to eradicating the routine care and treatment of individuals in non-clinical or unsuitable environments, in line with our manifesto commitment. I have been clear that addressing this issue requires a whole system approach with a particular focus on strengthening primary and social care capacity. The measures we are taking to this end – which include a number of actions within the first 100 days of this term - were laid out during my recent oral statement to the Senedd.

Under the NHS Wales Planning Framework 2026/27, all health boards are expected to deliver sustained improvements in patient flow across acute hospitals. This includes maximising same-day emergency care and acute frailty services, improving access to community and step-down capacity, and increasing earlier-in-the-day and weekend discharges from hospital.

These actions are critical to ensuring that patients are not held in emergency departments longer than necessary and, importantly, that care is not delivered in non-clinical or unsuitable environments, such as corridors, across emergency departments and hospital wards.

NHS Performance and Improvement has been instructed to robustly hold local health boards to account against these expectations. This includes regular engagement, close monitoring of performance, targeted support where needed, and escalation where progress is insufficient. The focus is on demonstrable, at-pace improvements that reduce overcrowding, improve patient experience and safety, and end care in temporary spaces across Wales.

I will be engaging with all key stakeholders - including the BEDS - Ending Corridor Care campaign - to work towards eradicating this unacceptable way of practice.