MORE than 850 instances of patients receiving treatment in corridors at Basildon Hospital's emergency department were recorded in a single month, newly released figures reveal.

Data shows on 857 occasions patients were cared for in corridors at the hospital's emergency department during June, equating to an average of 29 a day.

The highest daily total was recorded on June 23, at 43. In contrast, Southend Hospital and Broomfield Hospital recorded no instances of corridor care.

The data emerged after NHS leaders appeared before Thurrock Council's Adult Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee last week, where pressures facing Basildon Hospital were discussed as part of the trust's One Team Improvement Plan.

During the scrutiny meeting, Dr Maimuna Mushabe, hospital chief executive for Basildon, outlined measures aimed at reducing pressure on the emergency department, including improvements to ambulance offloading facilities.

"We applied for some funding because the area where ambulances currently offload patients is not adequate," she said.

"We've been given money to expand that space so patients can be received and assessed in a safer environment. That will help us move people through the system more quickly and reduce the time ambulances are waiting outside.

"The buildings are very old and need refurbishment. We are also carrying out repairs to the roof of the emergency department. Hopefully, with all of those interventions, we should be able to eliminate corridor care."

The issue was raised by Reform UK councillor Oscar Ellis, who asked whether the trust could continue improving patient care while delivering a £107 million savings programme.

Dr Mushabe said the trust's improvement plans depended on teams working together across the organisation to improve services and patient outcomes.

Mid and South Essex NHS Trust said it has already made significant progress in reducing corridor care across its sites.

Basildon councillor Terri Sargent, the council's cabinet member for health and inclusion, described the figures as "deeply upsetting".

She said she sympathised with patients and their families, while also paying tribute to hospital staff dealing with increasing demand.

"Basildon Hospital is facing significant pressures, not least because of our ageing population," she said.

Denise Townsend, the trust's deputy chief nurse, said: "We have significantly reduced the number of patients who are receiving care in corridors and escalation spaces across our emergency departments," she said.

"There has been no corridor care in Southend ED since March, no patients are being treated in corridors in Broomfield ED either, and there has been a significant improvement this year at Basildon.

"Patient waiting times in our emergency departments have also reduced and we are now routinely in the top half of performers in England for emergency care waiting times.

"No one wants patients to receive care in corridors, and we are absolutely committed to getting patients into the right beds at the right time so they receive the highest quality care. This is one of our top priorities and an important part of our improvement programme."