Survey Highlights Long Waits and Insufficient Care in England’s A&E Departments

Nearly half of emergency patients report receiving no help while waiting, as NHS faces mounting pressure heading into winter.

A Care Quality Commission (CQC) survey of over 45,000 patients found 47% of A&E patients received no assistance with their condition or symptoms while waiting for assessment.
More than 28% of patients waited over an hour to be assessed by a nurse or doctor, and nearly two-thirds faced waits exceeding four hours to be admitted, transferred, or discharged.
Patients reported inadequate pain relief, with 27% of A&E respondents stating they received no help managing their pain during their visit.
Heavy demand on A&E services is attributed in part to patients struggling to access timely GP appointments, with many arriving at A&E believing their GP could not assist.
Health leaders warn that pressures on emergency services will intensify during the winter months, urging systemic collaboration to improve patient care and reduce delays.