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NHS told to urgently end 'corridor care' for children after heartbreaking death of two-year-old boy

NHS told to urgently end 'corridor care' for children after heartbreaking death of two-year-old boy

The Health Secretary has pledged to prioritise ending 'corridor care' for children after a toddler died following hours in A&E.

Ruairidh Pritchard

Published: October 19, 2026 at 10:26 AM

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Parents taking their poorly child to A&E should be able to expect a safe, appropriate space for them to receive care. But for some families in England, overcrowded hospitals mean children are being treated in corridors rather than dedicated treatment areas.

Now, Health Secretary Yvette Cooper has called for urgent action to end the practice for children, following the heartbreaking story of two-year-old Finlay Roberts, who died in 2024 after spending hours in a hospital corridor before being discharged.

Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Cooper confirmed that new standards for children's emergency care would be introduced, alongside £140 million of funding to help NHS hospitals prepare for what could be a particularly challenging winter.

What is 'corridor care' and why are children being affected?

'Corridor care' happens when patients are treated or made to wait in hospital corridors, waiting rooms or other areas not designed for clinical care, usually because emergency departments are overcrowded.

It can mean families waiting for hours without access to a proper treatment space, with concerns around privacy, dignity and the conditions in which care is delivered.

The government has already committed to ending 'corridor care' for all patients by the end of this parliament, but Cooper has now said that tackling the issue for children will be a priority.

For the first time, the NHS will also collect data on 'corridor care' broken down by age, helping to establish how many children are affected.

The heartbreaking story of two-year-old Finlay Roberts

The announcement follows the experience of Finlay Roberts and his parents, David and Liz.

Finlay died in 2024 after being discharged from a north London hospital, where he had spent hours in an A&E corridor.

His father David described the situation as a "terrible mess", explaining that the family had initially been moved into a room with a bed, only to be returned to the corridor.

"He just clung to me, as we now know, slowly dying," David told the BBC.

Finlay's mother Liz also recalled being asked to administer a suppository to her son while they were in the corridor, raising concerns about the lack of privacy and dignity afforded to patients.

robs people of their dignity when they are at their most vulnerable

Liz Roberts, Finlay's mother, speaking to the BBC about 'corridor care'

Responding to the family's experience, Cooper apologised to Finlay's parents on behalf of the NHS.

"No child should be treated in a corridor. No patient should be treated in a corridor," she said.

Whittington Health NHS Trust, where Finlay had received care, extended its condolences to his family and acknowledged that exceptional demand sometimes meant patients were cared for in temporary clinical areas, including corridors.

What changes are being promised for children in A&E?

Cooper has asked the NHS to draw up urgent plans to accelerate the end of 'corridor care' for children across England.

The proposed changes include:

Prioritising children: NHS leaders will be asked to speed up plans to stop children being treated in corridors.
New children's A&E standards: Updated standards will be introduced for emergency care involving children.
Better monitoring: 'Corridor care' figures will be collected by patient age for the first time.
Extra NHS funding: £140 million will support 14 urgent care improvement schemes across England.

The funding will go towards projects including new urgent care centres, ambulance fleets and emergency department upgrades.

However, no specific date has yet been confirmed for when 'corridor care' for children will end.

Why are hospitals under so much pressure?

The announcement comes as the NHS prepares for another demanding winter, with seasonal illnesses including flu and norovirus expected to increase pressure on emergency services.

According to NHS figures, almost 7.3 million people attended A&E in England between June and August 2026, the highest recorded number for a summer period.

Health organisations have warned that overcrowding cannot be solved by additional funding alone, with staffing shortages and wider pressures across the NHS also needing attention.

Patricia Marquis, executive director of the Royal College of Nursing in England, welcomed the investment but warned that it would provide "just another sticking plaster on a system that is at breaking point".

What does this mean for parents?

For now, the announcement is a commitment to improve children's emergency care rather than an immediate change to how every A&E department operates.

Parents may still encounter busy waiting rooms and long waits, particularly during the winter months, while the NHS develops its plans.

If your child needs urgent medical help but it is not life-threatening, NHS 111 can advise on the most appropriate service. For a life-threatening emergency, call 999 or go to A&E.

The hope is that prioritising children's care, introducing clearer standards and monitoring the scale of corridor treatment will help ensure that families seeking emergency help can access the safe, dignified care they deserve.

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Authors

Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.