Overview
- More than half of those facing 24–72 hour waits were aged 80 or over, according to Age UK’s Freedom of Information analysis.
- Patients described undignified conditions in corridors and waiting rooms, with NHS data linking waits over 12 hours to more than double the 30-day mortality risk.
- NHS England says any waits recorded beyond three days are likely due to data quality issues, though campaigners report instances of longer delays.
- The latest monthly figures show 50,775 people waited more than 12 hours from decision to admit to admission in December.
- The Department of Health and Social Care cites roughly £450m invested and plans to publish corridor-care data, while Age UK calls for a costed timetable and a named minister to reduce long waits.