The ESNEFT boss, who was appointed in August 2026, said the trust's ambition was to significantly reduce corridor care this winter and be well on the way to eliminating it over the next 12 months.

Scott said: ‘There are occasions when, at times of peak pressure, we have to care for some patients in corridor spaces temporarily.

‘Any use of corridor care is unacceptable to me, to our staff and for the patients who experience it.

‘We have already seen improvements and we will make sure the steps we have taken continue.'

A CQC inspection of Ipswich Hospital in September 2025 found some people had waited up to 20 hours to be treated or admitted to medical wards due to a lack of capacity because of delayed discharges, with some patients being cared for in corridors.

In October 2025, ESNEFT said it had taken ‘decisive action' to address CQC concerns, including reducing corridor care in the emergency department and boosting recruitment.