\n Earlier this month, it emerged the number of patients waiting more than four hours in accident and emergency had reached its highest total on record in August.\n<\/p>\n
\n Ms Constance spoke about the winter pressures on the NHS as she appeared on the BBC\u2019s Sunday Show programme.\n<\/p>\n
\n It was put to her that the Scottish Government<\/a> does not record statistics on corridor care in hospitals.\n<\/p>\n \n Read More:\n<\/p>\n \n She said: \u201cSo, I want to remedy that.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cWhat I am absolutely clear about is that corridor care isn\u2019t acceptable. It\u2019s not acceptable for patients or their families.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n The Health Secretary also said corridor care makes the job of NHS staff \u201charder\u201d and she had been clear about her expectations on the issue, saying \u201cwe cannot accept corridor care\u201d.\n<\/p>\n \n Discussing capacity in hospitals, she said: \u201cThe bigger issue is around reducing avoidable hospital admissions.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cHence, we have to have a laser focus on building capacity in the community, ensuring people know which service to approach at the right time.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n Dr Fiona Hunter, of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said she was \u201ccompletely terrified\u201d of the looming winter pressures on the NHS.\n<\/p>\n \n Speaking on the Sunday show, she said: \u201cThere\u2019s been a toxic normalisation of corridor care\u201d.\n<\/p>\n \n She added: \u201cWe know that excess mortality happens when you languish on a hospital trolley for more than 12 hours.\u201d\n<\/p>\n