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🇦🇺 Australia /Health & Science

Calls for investigation into practice of keeping patients in SA hospital corridors

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • South Australia's nurses' union is calling for an investigation into the practice of keeping patients in hospital corridors, citing safety concerns.
  • The union reported the issue to SafeWork SA, stating that corridor care restricts access to essential equipment and staffing.
  • The state health minister confirmed corridor care is used at some hospitals following a coroner's recommendation, but the opposition and a patient's family have called for the practice to end.

South Australia's nurses' union is demanding an investigation into the "regular" use of hospital corridors to house patients, a practice they claim compromises safety and access to essential care.

If it's not safe for people to be out on the ramp, it's certainly, similarly, not safe for them to be housed in a corridor.

— Elizabeth DabarsANMF SA chief executive Elizabeth Dabars explains the safety concerns regarding patients being kept in hospital corridors.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation SA Branch (ANMF SA) has submitted a report to SafeWork SA after inspecting the Royal Adelaide Hospital. They argue that "corridor care" restricts access to toilets, oxygen, suction, and appropriate staffing. "If it's not safe for people to be out on the ramp, it's certainly, similarly, not safe for them to be housed in a corridor," said ANMF SA chief executive Elizabeth Dabars.

What they seem to be doing is shifting the problem directly from the ramp, into the hospital corridors. So they are moving a visible problem into a hidden area.

— Elizabeth DabarsANMF SA chief executive Elizabeth Dabars describes the practice of 'corridor care' as moving the problem of ramping from outside to inside the hospital.

Dabars suggested extending urgent care centre hours and coordinating with aged care providers to increase bed availability as solutions. However, SA health minister Blair Boyer confirmed that corridor care is an option at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Flinders, and Lyell McEwen hospitals. He stated it was implemented following a coroner's recommendation related to hospital ramping and that it is used only when appropriate and safe for the right patient.

It is being done appropriately as per the coroner's recommendation.

— Blair BoyerSA health minister Blair Boyer confirms the use of 'corridor care' at some hospitals, stating it follows a coroner's recommendation.

Despite the minister's assurances, the opposition health spokesperson, Jack Batty, called for the practice to cease. He highlighted the SafeWork report as evidence of the hospital system being under immense pressure, making it dangerous. The opposition's stance is supported by the family of Helen Sargeant, who died after being left in a Royal Adelaide Hospital corridor in October 2025. Boyer noted that clinical reviews into Sargeant's death did not find the corridor care to be the cause.

It has to be in circumstances where it's appropriate and safe, and it has to be the right patient.

— Blair BoyerSA health minister Blair Boyer outlines the conditions under which 'corridor care' is implemented.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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