Overview
- The Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s survey of 163 A&E clinical leads published Monday found 92% described current pressure as high or very high and just 3% said their departments were well prepared for winter.
- NHS England performance data for September show an average of 3,310 patients received corridor care each day and 50,582 people waited more than 12 hours from decision to admit to admission, both up from August.
- RCEM leaders say hospitals are entering winter with nearly 1,000 fewer beds year on year and recruitment freezes that limit hiring of doctors and nurses needed to relieve pressure.
- Health Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a targeted £140 million urgent care package and a pledge to end corridor care for children, but clinical bodies say the funds and short-term schemes will not fix core capacity and social care shortfalls.
- Clinicians warn worsening crowding and long waits are already harming patients and say policymakers should prioritise extra beds, staff recruitment and community care to speed discharges and prevent a wider winter crisis.