Enter and view: Leighton A&E Corridor care

Healthwatch Cheshire carried out a focused Enter and View visit on corridor care (temporary escalation spaces) in Leighton Hospital A&E on 19 August 2025, and revisited on 12 February 2026. This report compares what people said across those two visits. The February 2026 visit followed earlier Healthwatch activity in the department (an A&E Enter and View in December 2024) and a focused corridor care visit on 19 August 2025. 

The February 2026 visit aimed to understand what had changed since August 2025 — and what still required attention — particularly around safety, privacy and dignity, communication, and access to food, drink and hygiene support.

 Across both visits, patients and relatives consistently praised staff for their professionalism and kindness despite pressure. However, several recurring issues continued to affect people’s experience of escalation care, particularly around communication, comfort overnight, privacy and dignity, and consistency of basic support. 

Key points across the two visits included: 

Staff were consistently described as kind, professional and hardworking. 

 Call bells were present in August 2025, but many people were not told what they were or how to use them, and there was no clear signage. By February 2026, posters and information were more visible in some areas, but people still described gaps, including a missing call bell in one bay and delays when a bell was used. 

Privacy and dignity remained difficult to maintain in open escalation environments, especially during long waits and overnight stays. 

Comfort overnight was a continued challenge, including reports of noise, alarms, lighting, and inconsistent access to pillows and blankets. 

Food and drink were available for many people, but experiences were inconsistent, including reports of delays and gaps overnight. 

More people said they received a corridor care leaflet in February 2026. Some still described practical problems—very small print, jargon (for example, ‘acuity’), and more than one version in circulation—which made it harder to use. 

Healthwatch Cheshire recognises that temporary escalation spaces are not ideal and reflect the wider pressures facing urgent and emergency care. Where improvements were identified, these are noted. Where issues persisted, this report is clear about what still needs to change.