Tens of thousands of patients in England waited over 24 hours for hospital beds after visiting Accident and Emergency departments, with those aged 65 or over making up nearly 70% of long trolley waits.
Long Trolley Waits in England’s A&E: A Growing Concern
The Scale of the Problem
In 2024, tens of thousands of patients waited more than 24 hours for hospital beds after visiting England‘s Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments. According to data from 54 trusts in England, approximately 49,000 A&E visits resulted in patients waiting 24 hours or longer for a hospital bed.
The Demographics of Long Trolley Waits
Patients aged 65 or over made up almost 70% of long ‘trolley waits’, with some individuals left without a space on a ward for up to 10 days. This age group is particularly vulnerable, and the prolonged waiting times can have severe consequences for their health.
Older patients face unique challenges in healthcare due to age-related changes.
Physical decline, cognitive impairment, and polypharmacy can complicate treatment plans.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 6 people aged 60+ experience dementia.
In the United States, older adults account for 12% of emergency department visits, with falls being a leading cause.
Healthcare providers must consider these factors when treating older patients, prioritizing patient-centered care and addressing social determinants of health.
The Crisis in Corridor Care
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) described the figures as ‘only beginning to scratch the surface’ of a ‘crisis in corridor care’. Reports of patients being seen in hospital corridors due to a lack of beds are becoming increasingly common. The RCN attributed this problem, in part, to declining recruitment in nursing.
Corridor care refers to the practice of caring for patients in hospital corridors, often due to a shortage of available beds.
This phenomenon has been observed globally, particularly during periods of high demand or pandemics.
According to a study by the World Health Organization (WHO), corridor care can lead to increased patient mortality rates and prolonged recovery times.
In 2019, it was reported that over 20% of patients in some European hospitals received treatment in corridors.
Implementing effective triage systems and increasing hospital capacity are essential strategies for mitigating corridor care.
‘The NHS and the UK government must begin to disclose the true scale of the problem if they’re serious about eradicating it,’ said Prof Nicola Ranger, general secretary and chief executive of the RCN. ‘A single patient waiting for more than 24 hours is unacceptable, tens of thousands waiting shows why corridor care must be eradicated. It is undignified and unsafe, and now a year-round crisis.’
The Response from Politicians
The Liberal Democrats have called for the government to establish a new team of ‘super-heads’ composed of experienced NHS bosses who would go into struggling trusts and bring them up to standard. They argue that this approach is necessary to address the root causes of the problem.
‘The least patients deserve is the dignity to be treated in an appropriate area,’ said Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat health and social care spokesperson. ‘Not the ramshackle waiting rooms and corridors that far too many have to suffer through for hours. That is why the government must ensure that this is the last winter crisis anyone will experience and end corridor care by the end of this parliament.’
The Labour Government’s Response
The current Labour government has taken steps to address the issue, including introducing new vaccines and reducing strikes. However, critics argue that these measures have not gone far enough.
‘We have taken action to protect A&E departments,’ said a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson. ‘This work continues to ensure patients are treated quickly. We are fundamentally reforming the NHS as part of our Plan for Change, providing more care in the community, so fewer patients have to go to A&E, and those who do are treated faster and with dignity.’
The Impact on Patients
The prolonged waiting times in A&E departments can have severe consequences for patients, particularly those aged 65 or over. Hospitals like East Kent’s NHS trust, which had the highest number of day-or-longer trolley waits last year, acknowledged that patients were waiting longer than they would like.
Patient health risks refer to the potential harm or damage that can be caused to a patient's physical or mental well-being.
These risks can arise from various sources, including medical errors, hospital-acquired infections, and adverse reactions to medications.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), millions of patients worldwide are affected by preventable healthcare-associated infections each year.
In the United States alone, it is estimated that over 400,000 patients experience adverse events during hospital stays annually.
‘We are sorry that patients are waiting longer than we would like in our emergency departments,’ said a spokesperson for East Kent hospitals trust.
