The call came after NHSE published updated guidance on providing corridor care.

RCN chief nursing officer Lynn Woolsey said: ‘While providing corridor care guidance to NHS leaders and clinicians is important, it equally shows just how far the situation has deteriorated for patients and staff.

‘Nursing staff sounded the alarm 18 months ago on the issue of corridor care, yet it's deeply distressing and demoralising to see it ultimately accepted as an inevitability into next year and beyond. Patients and nursing staff deserve better.'

The RCN urged the Government to publish a plan, including investment in hospital beds, nursing staff across acute and community settings, and urgent action to boost social care capacity to speed up patient discharge.

The union's statement came after an RCN report which said the Government had acted with ‘insufficient urgency' to tackle 12-hour waits this winter.

While welcoming, the inclusion of corridor care data reporting in all hospital wards in the new guidance, Woolsey said it raised concerns about the definition of safe care and was ‘unambitious' by excluding only some groups from the practice.

‘To nursing staff, guidance on excluding certain groups from the practice of corridor care will feel detached from the reality of working under intolerable pressures,' Woolsey said.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘No one should receive care in a corridor in a chair or trolley - it is unacceptable and undignified. We are determined to end this, which is why we're publishing corridor waiting figures so we can take the steps needed to eradicate it from our health service. Sunlight is the best disinfectant to stop this practice. 

‘This winter, we are investing almost £450m to expand same day and urgent care services, upgrading up to 500 ambulances, delivering new mental health crisis centres, and giving NHS leaders more power to deliver local solutions.

‘On top of this, we are ramping up activity of vital vaccinations, to ensure you and your loved ones stay protected from flu and other diseases. Together, we can ensure the NHS is there when you need it.'