NHS Faces Year-Round A&E crisis as Trolley Waits Soar, Experts warn
London, UK - England’s National Health Service is experiencing an ongoing emergency care crisis, with dangerously long A&E waits now persisting throughout the year, not just during winter months, according to new data and leading medical professionals.Figures reveal a meaningful number of patients are facing extended delays, often spending 12 hours or more waiting for a hospital bed – a situation experts describe as a “permacrisis.”
Data highlighted by the Liberal Democrats shows notably acute issues at Epsom and St Helier hospitals, where 42% of trolley waits in June and 45% in July exceeded 12 hours. Warrington and Halton also reported high rates, with 48% and 30% of waits surpassing the 12-hour mark in June and July respectively.
“What was once a winter crisis has become a year-round disaster, with the health service buckling under pressure all year round,” stated Helen Morgan, the Lib Dem health and social care spokesperson.”Every day peopel are put at risk by long,deadly waits with families watching helplessly as loved ones are left in agony on trolleys in A&E corridors.”
The Lib Dems are urging the government to implement a “winter emergency package” including increased vaccine uptake for illnesses like flu, expanded pharmacy access, and a recruitment drive for out-of-hours GPs.
Dr. Adrian Boyle, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, emphasized the lack of seasonal relief. “If this is the level of demand we are experiencing now,what will winter look like,when we have an annual spike in seasonal illness which heaps further demand on the system?” he questioned. He called for a commitment to increasing ward beds and improving discharge processes, stating, “Only then will we have any hope of ending the shameful scenes of very poorly, often vulnerable, people stranded on trolleys in corridors for long and dangerous periods of time.”
Patricia Marquis, Executive director for England at the Royal College of Nursing, described the surge in 12-hour waits as evidence that “corridor care is now a year-round crisis.” She warned, “There has been no respite for understaffed nursing teams during a record summer and they will now be worried about what the coming winter has in store.” Marquis urged ministers to act urgently to prevent patients from being placed in unsuitable spaces within hospitals, calling the current situation “utterly undignified and will never be a safe standard of care.”
The Department of Health and Social Care defended its record, stating that A&E waits are “improving” despite increased demand and highlighting a nearly £450 million investment in expanding urgent and emergency care facilities, including same-day care services, mental health crisis centres, and around 500 new ambulances.
