McGrath: We Can’t ignore patients being treated in hospital corridors

Mr McGrath, who serves as Opposition Health Spokesperson, said the stories coming from frontline healthcare workers are deeply worrying.

“I’ve spoken to nurses and doctors who are delivering vital treatments in hospital corridors — with no privacy, no proper facilities, and no dignity for patients,” Mr McGrath said.

“These are not isolated cases. This is becoming a routine part of our healthcare system, and it’s simply not fair on our staff or patients to put them through this.”

Back in January, Mr McGrath wrote to the Minister, asking if the Department of Health would begin formally recording the level of corridor care being provided — something which is not currently being done.

“How can we fix a problem we don’t even measure?” he asked. “If we’re not counting this, it means the official picture of our hospital capacity is wrong , and our staff and patients are the ones paying the price.”

Despite repeated follow-ups, Mr McGrath, was elected to serve South Down as an MLA in 2016 and again in 2017 and 2022, has yet to receive a response from the Minister.

“This silence is not just frustrating — it’s dangerous,” he said.

“Corridor care strips people of their dignity, and puts extra pressure on already overstretched staff. We need action, not excuses. I’ll keep pushing this until we see real change.”