One in 10 patients spent over 12 hours in A&E in 2025
Summary
In 2025, one in 10 patients at major emergency departments (A&E) in England waited over 12 hours for treatment. The Royal College of Nursing highlighted concerns about long waits and care in corridors, impacting the quality of care. Health Secretary Wes Streeting recognized the issue and is committed to resolving it before the end of the current parliamentary term.Key Facts
- In 2025, 1.75 million patients in England's major A&E units waited over 12 hours for care.
- This situation was only slightly better compared to 2024.
- The Royal College of Nursing reported that long waits and corridor care have a negative impact on patient care quality.
- Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the current state should not be normalized and aims to publish data for transparency.
- Some improvements, like ambulance response times, have been noted, according to Streeting.
- Nurses reported being embarrassed and ashamed by having to treat patients in corridors and non-traditional areas.
- Examples included a patient choking undetected in a corridor and patients spending days on plastic chairs.
- Hospitals like Nottingham University Hospital had to declare critical incidents due to these pressures.
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