Nearly 150,000 Elderly Patients Face Extended A&E Waits in England
London – A new report from Age UK reveals that nearly 150,000 people aged 90 and over in England experienced A&E waits exceeding 12 hours last year. The findings highlight a growing crisis in emergency care, with older patients disproportionately affected by lengthy delays and undignified conditions.
The report details instances of elderly individuals left unattended for over 20 hours, experiencing a lack of basic care and privacy. One case cited involved a man “left in this state for over 20 hours. How dreadful he felt – no modesty.”
Abrahams, a spokesperson for Age UK, stated: “Many of the stories we have heard from older people and their families are heartbreaking and, to make it worse, the older you are, the more likely you are, it seems, to endure a lengthy and often uncomfortable wait.”
The institution warns that prolonged A&E waits and “corridor care” are “like a rot eating away the heart of the NHS,” eroding public trust and impacting staff morale. Abrahams urged ministers to produce a plan with specific deadlines to end long A&E waits and corridor care, emphasizing the need for government leadership, targets, inspection, and funding.
Liberal Democrat health spokesperson helen Morgan echoed the call for a plan to “end corridor care,” describing the conditions faced by elderly patients as “harrowing” and unacceptable in a modern society.
prof Nicola Ranger, of the Royal College of Nursing, called the report “devastating,” labeling long A&E waits “a moral stain” on the NHS. “No elderly or vulnerable person should be forced to endure these conditions,” she added. “It is indeed unsafe, undignified, and unacceptable.” she attributed the issues to an overstretched and understaffed nursing workforce facing an “impractical task.”
Daniel Elkeles, of NHS Providers, emphasized the need for urgent investment in buildings and equipment to increase capacity. Rory Deighton, of NHS confederation, advocated for “viable alternatives” to A&E, including improved access to GPs, walk-in centres, and local support for falls and frailty.
Health minister Karin Smyth MP acknowledged the report as “heartbreaking,” stating, “No one should receive care in a corridor – itS unacceptable, undignified and we are resolute to end it.” She highlighted government investment of £450m in new urgent and emergency care centres, the procurement of 500 ambulances, and the construction of 40 mental health crisis centres.
