South Australian Nurses Union Calls for Investigation into "Corridor Care" in Hospitals

The South Australian nurses' union wants the state government to intervene in what it claims is the "regular" use of hospital corridors to keep patients until beds become available during high-demand periods.

Following an inspection at the Royal Adelaide Hospital by its officers, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation SA Branch (ANMF SA) has submitted a report to SafeWork SA calling for an investigation into use of "corridor care" at the state's major hospital.

ANMF SA chief executive Elizabeth Dabars says the use of corridors to keep patients was becoming increasingly common in state hospitals, and meant access to toilets, oxygen and suction or "any other safety equipment or appropriate staffing" were restricted.

Ms Dabars said the action appeared to be a response to ongoing concerns about ramping at the hospital.

"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," she said.

"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."

She said the government should extend urgent care centre operating hours to allow for round-the-clock admissions, and for state and federal governments to coordinate with aged care providers to make more beds available in the private system.

SA health minister Blair Boyer confirmed corridor care was now an option at the RAH, Flinders and Lyell McEwen hospitals, following a recommendation made in a coronial inquest into three ramping-related deaths between 2019 and 2022.

"It is being done appropriately as per the coroner's recommendation," Mr Boyer said.

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

Mr Boyer referred to the July 2025 inquest findings and said the coroner had "endorsed" the government's approach to addressing ramping, which was "extremely comprehensive and well thought through" strategy and an "excellent use of public funds".

However, that inquest also heard mixed responses from experts about the suitability of corridor care.

Earlier today, the state opposition called for the practice to end as they stood with the family of Helen Sargeant, who died after being left on a bed in a Royal Adelaide Hospital corridor in October 2025.

Opposition health spokesperson Jack Batty said the SafeWork report showed the "hospital system's under such enormous pressure that it's becoming dangerous".

"If nurses are expressing serious concerns about so-called corridor care, we should be listening to them," he said.

Mr Boyer said three clinical reviews into Mrs Sergeant's death found the care provided in the corridor was "not the reason for Mrs Sargeant's passing".

He acknowledged Mrs Sargeant's family did not agree with those findings, and he has committed to commissioning a review external of the health department if a coronial inquest into her death does not take place.