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Calls for government action are intensifying as campaigners warn of the detrimental impact of long waits in A&E departments. Age UK is leading the charge, releasing a report that sheds light on the heartbreaking stories of elderly patients enduring hours in corridors and make-shift treatment areas, with some even passing away in these dire conditions. The organization stresses that the elderly are disproportionately affected by long waits, as data reveals that one in three individuals over the age of 90 faced 12-hour waits or more in English A&Es last year.
The Age UK report paints a stark picture of the situation, highlighting instances where patients were left in distressing conditions for extended periods. Shockingly, the norm of 12-hour waits has become all too common, with examples such as an 86-year-old being stranded in a disused corridor for 36 hours. Another individual was forced to endure 20 hours in their own excrement, while others resorted to using bedpans in crowded corridors. Susan, a 79-year-old from south London, recounted waiting 22 hours for a bed after suffering a heart attack, surrounded by a lack of privacy and witnessing the tragic passing of fellow patients.
The dire state of affairs is further underscored by data revealing over 1.7 million 12-hour waits at major hospitals in 2024-25, with the majority affecting individuals over 60 years old. Age UK Director Caroline Abrahams has labeled the situation a “crisis hiding in plain sight,” urging immediate government intervention. She stresses the need to prevent patients from spending their final days in undignified and inadequate conditions, emphasizing the negative impact of long waits on public trust in the NHS. The root cause of the issue, according to Age UK, lies in the lack of community support leading to delayed discharges and a subsequent shortage of available beds, necessitating urgent action to address these systemic challenges.
The Royal College of Nursing’s General Secretary, Prof Nicola Ranger, echoed these sentiments, condemning the treatment of elderly and vulnerable individuals in such deplorable conditions as a moral stain on the healthcare system. Health Minister Karin Smyth reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the issue, emphasizing that care in corridors is unacceptable and undignified. Smyth outlined plans to invest additional funding in the NHS and publish detailed data on corridor care to ensure accountability within the healthcare system. The urgency of the matter was highlighted by the impending winter season, with concerns that the already dire situation could deteriorate further without decisive action to tackle the underlying issues fueling long A&E waits
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