Excess Deaths Linked to Long A&E Waits in England

A new report reveals more than 250 patients may die weekly due to extended waits for A&E beds, highlighting a critical healthcare crisis.

More than 250 patients in England may have died unnecessarily each week in 2023 due to long waits for A&E beds, according to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.
A study found an excess death for every 72 patients spending 8 to 12 hours in A&E, with the risk of death increasing after five hours.
In 2023, over 1.5 million patients waited more than 12 hours in major emergency departments, with 65% awaiting admission.
NHS England claims its urgent and emergency care recovery plan is delivering improvements, despite the high number of long waits.
Healthcare professionals call for urgent intervention to address the crisis, stressing that patients and staff are facing avoidable harm.