The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has released a report detailing the experiences of more than 5,000 nursing staff.

66.8 per cent of respondents said they are delivering care in over-crowded or unsuitable places, such as corridors, converted cupboards and car parks.

The staff reported they are unable to access oxygen, cardiac monitors, suction and other lifesaving equipment.

90 per cent said that patient safety is being compromised.

RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: "This devastating testimony from frontline nursing staff shows patients are coming to harm every day, forced to endure unsafe treatment in corridors, toilets and even rooms usually reserved for families to visit deceased relatives. Vulnerable people are being stripped of their dignity and nursing staff are being denied access to vital lifesaving equipment. We can now categorically say patients are dying in this situation."

Last week, RCN wrote to health secretary Wes Streeting and Chief Executive of NHS England Amanda Pritchard calling on the government to urgently tackle the issue of corridor care.

The joint letter was signed by 15 key health care and patient organisations, including the Patients Association, the British Medical Association, Age UK, Marie Curie, John's Campaign, the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.

The letter said: “Health and social care professionals and patients, their relatives and carers, are rightly worried about what the coming weeks and months may bring... we are clear that treating patients in corridors, on chairs and other inappropriate spaces is in no way acceptable and must end.”