Long A&E waits causing heartbreaking suffering, charity says

Published: 31 October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The government has been urged to urgently tackle long waits in accident and emergency departments, with charities warning that the delays are causing severe suffering among patients and eroding public trust in the NHS. Age UK has released a detailed report highlighting the plight of older patients forced to spend hours in corridors, side-rooms, and temporary treatment areas, sometimes in distressing and undignified conditions.

According to the report, some patients have been left in their own waste, while others received critical treatments such as blood transfusions in makeshift spaces, and in the worst cases, individuals have died while waiting for proper care. Age UK stresses that older patients are particularly vulnerable, with statistics showing that one in three people over 90 attending A&E in England last year endured waits of 12 hours or more, far exceeding what is safe or humane.

The government has acknowledged that these long waits are unacceptable and has stressed that steps are being taken to improve patient flow and hospital capacity. However, campaigners insist that the situation has become a systemic problem, with 12-hour waits, once considered rare, increasingly becoming commonplace. The report includes examples that illustrate the shocking scale of the issue: an 86-year-old patient was left in a disused corridor for 36 hours, while another patient spent 20 hours in a hallway after soiling themselves, enduring indignities such as using a bedpan in public view.

Susan, a 79-year-old patient from South London, shared her personal experience in the report. She arrived at the hospital after suffering a heart attack and spent 22 hours on a couch in a curtained-off area near the A&E department. During her wait, she overheard the final moments of other patients, describing the experience as deeply distressing and traumatic. “I was next to a man who was clearly unwell. He was alone for some time, then his wife was brought in. They whispered as they had little privacy. Then, after a long silence, she was led away, crying. I’m certain he died. And he died right next to me,” she recounted.

Age UK’s findings are based on data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from NHS England. It shows that more than 1.7 million 12-hour waits occurred in major hospitals during 2024-25, equating to roughly one in ten A&E patients. Alarmingly, two-thirds of these prolonged waits affected people aged over 60. Charity leaders argue that such delays not only cause suffering but also pose significant health risks. Patients left unattended for long periods are more susceptible to complications, infections, and mental health deterioration due to stress, anxiety, and isolation.

Caroline Abrahams, director of Age UK, described the situation as a “crisis hiding in plain sight,” and called for immediate government intervention. “No-one should have to spend their final days in a hospital corridor where it is impossible for staff to provide good, compassionate care,” she said. “Long waits are like a rot eating away at the heart of the NHS, undermining public trust and leaving older people exposed to preventable harm.”

One of the key drivers behind the long waits is the lack of support in the community, which results in hospitals being unable to discharge patients who are medically fit to leave. This, in turn, reduces the number of beds available for incoming patients, causing bottlenecks in A&E departments. Age UK urges a renewed national effort to address these systemic issues, emphasizing that tackling community care and hospital capacity together is essential to solving the problem.

RCN General Secretary Prof Nicola Ranger echoed these concerns, describing the prolonged waits as a “moral stain” on the health service. She emphasized that no elderly or vulnerable person should be forced to endure these conditions and highlighted the impossible workload faced by overstretched and understaffed nursing teams. “Our nurses work tirelessly, but when resources are inadequate and the demand is overwhelming, it becomes impossible to provide care to the standard patients deserve,” Prof Ranger said.

Health Minister Karin Smyth also acknowledged the severity of the issue, stating: “No one should receive care in a corridor. It is unacceptable and undignified. We are determined to end this practice and ensure that patients are treated with the respect and care they deserve.” Smyth added that the government is investing additional funding in the NHS to improve patient care, and promised that detailed data on corridor care will soon be published to hold hospitals accountable. “To tackle a problem, you have to be honest about it. Transparency and accountability are essential to ensure the system functions effectively,” she said.

The problem is expected to worsen as winter approaches, a period traditionally associated with higher hospital admissions and increased pressure on NHS services. Charities like Age UK have warned that without urgent action, more patients—particularly older people—will continue to face distressing waits, with serious consequences for both physical and mental health.

The report also emphasizes the emotional toll of prolonged waiting. Many older patients experience anxiety, stress, and humiliation while waiting in crowded corridors, often without access to basic facilities or privacy. For family members and carers, the situation is equally distressing, as they are left powerless to help loved ones while hospitals struggle to cope with the sheer volume of patients.

In conclusion, Age UK and other campaigners are calling on the government to implement a comprehensive strategy that includes strengthening community care, increasing hospital capacity, improving discharge procedures, and ensuring staff levels are adequate. Without such measures, prolonged A&E waits will continue to cause unnecessary suffering, particularly among the elderly, and erode confidence in the NHS at a time when public trust is crucial.