Yvette Cooper orders urgent end to corridor care for children

Government announces £140 million investment for urgent care

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a £140 million investment in health services on 18 October 2026. This funding is for 14 schemes across England to improve emergency services.

The projects include new urgent care centres, expanded ambulance fleets, and infrastructure upgrades for emergency departments.

Tragic death of two-year-old Finlay Roberts highlights risks

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper apologised to the parents of two-year-old Finlay Roberts for the corridor care he received before his death. Finlay died after spending nine hours in the A&E department at Whittington Hospital in north London with a twisted bowel condition.

His mother, Liz, recalled having to remove his nappy and administer a suppository in a public space while sitting on a chair because the department was overcrowded and understaffed. After being sent home in the early hours, Finlay was found not breathing because routine observations were not carried out.

Whittington Hospital extended condolences to the family and stated that they continue to experience periods of exceptional demand. This demand may result in some patients receiving care in temporary clinical areas like corridors, the hospital said.

As background, three health systems in the United States have discontinued or announced plans to end hospital-at-home programs in 2026. Congress extended the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative through 30 September 2030, allowing eligible hospitals to continue providing inpatient-level care at home under federal waivers.

A&E waiting times reach record highs in September

In September, 50,582 people waited longer than 12 hours in A&E departments before being admitted, an increase from 44,951 in August. The number of patients waiting at least four hours from the decision to admit to actual admission rose to 129,199 in September, up from 118,550 in August.

An average of 3,310 patients received corridor care each day in September, compared to 2,865 per day in August. In September, 2,549 of these patients were in A&E departments and 761 were in other hospital areas, while the August figures consisted of 2,297 in emergency departments and 568 in other areas.

New data collection and standards for pediatric treatment

The government began collecting figures on corridor care this summer and will now start gathering data specifically on when children are treated in corridors. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper announced urgent action to analyze the number of children treated in corridors and implement a plan to end corridor care more broadly.

Laura Kuenssberg challenged the Health and social care secretary, noting that NHS guidelines in England already prohibit treating children in corridors and that the problem has been getting worse.

NHS England to implement Martha's Rule by March

NHS England is extending Martha's Rule to all A&E units in England by March.

Health Secretary warns of challenging winter ahead

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper warned that the NHS faces a more challenging winter than normal. She stated that child health has been treated as a “sidecar” for the National Health Service and needs to be a “much greater priority for the NHS”.

Some studies have linked corridor care directly to higher mortality rates. Cooper stated that "no child should be treated in a corridor, no patient should be treated in a corridor" and emphasized that children should be treated in specialist support services and spaces.