Coroner raises concerns after woman left 17 hours in Brighton hospital corridor before death
Joanne Andrews' report highlights that it's a national crisis, not just isolated to the Royal Sussex County Hospital
A coroner has called for urgent action after a woman died at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton following a 17-hour wait in an Emergency Department corridor.
Joanne Andrews, Area Coroner for West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, concluded the inquest into the death of Maureen Brenda Batchelor, who died on 26 February 2025 from sepsis caused by inhaling vomit.
The report reveals Mrs Batchelor, admitted with severe diarrhoea and vomiting, remained in a corridor from 10:42am on 25 February until she became seriously unwell, vomiting again, at 3:15am the next day.
Crucially, the coroner noted, "Suction was not available in the corridor, so she had to be moved into the resuscitation area to receive that treatment and to have a nasogastric tube placed."
While the coroner found "no evidence from which I could conclude that the period of time taken to transfer Mrs Batchelor from the corridor to the Resuscitation area more than minimally contributed" to her death, the report raises pressing safety concerns about the continued use of corridors for patient care. At the time of Batchelor’s attendance, evidence showed 25 to 32 patients were being treated in the corridor.
Andrews' report warned that despite efforts by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust to reduce the need for corridor care, "the corridor remains in use for patients currently as there is insufficient space within the department to care for patients." She added, "When asked there was no evidence as to when this practice would no longer be necessary."
This situation is not isolated to Brighton, the report notes: "The use of corridors to care for patients is not only an issue at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton but is used throughout the country when the capacities of Emergency Departments has been reached and there is nowhere to treat patients and the only other alternative would be to hold patients in ambulances outside of the hospital.”
A similar warning was issued after a death in December 2022, but the practice remains widespread, with the coroner now stressing, "In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you."
The coroner directed the hospital trust to respond within 56 days detailing how it will address these issues or to explain why no action is proposed, with the possibility of the response being published by the Chief Coroner.