Responding to a question in The Scottish Parliament, Constance said recording the data presented ‘complex technical and operational challenges', adding the prevalence of patients receiving care in non-standard areas was ‘too high'.

The health secretary added: ‘This is clearly not acceptable which is why our key priority remains addressing the underlying causes of high acute hospital occupancy which results in bed blocking and can lead to the provision of care in non-standard areas.

‘We are focusing on improving patient flow so people are admitted, treated and discharged safely and on time. As part of our first 100 days commitments, we will deliver a plan on Improving Flow in Hospitals which will set out improvement in end-to-end patient flow, ensuring people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.'

NHS England published a definition of corridor care for the first time in March to allow trusts to begin collecting data, which was published from May.

Dr Fiona Hunter, Scotland vice president for the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said measuring the problem was a ‘good first step' but ‘not enough'.

Dr Hunter called for a definition of corridor care, adding ‘we need to see meaningful action to end this practice which is currently at risk of becoming permanently embedded in our NHS'.

She added: ‘These measures must include tackling high bed occupancy, speeding up hospital discharges and ensuring appropriate social care provision.'