Excessive wait times in emergency departments (A&E) across England are linked to more than 1,300 patient deaths every month, according to data from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM). Analysis indicates that over 300 deaths per week are associated with long delays, a figure that has risen nearly tenfold since 2015.
The Scale of the Emergency Care Crisis
The RCEM reports that in 2025, there were an estimated 15,860 excess deaths linked to long waits in A&E departments. While this number is a slight decrease from the 16,644 deaths reported in 2024, it represents a significant increase from the 1,657 deaths recorded in 2015.
To determine these figures, the RCEM utilized a 2021 study of over 5 million NHS patients published in the Emergency Medicine Journal. The study identified a correlation between prolonged stays and patient mortality, noting that the risk of death begins to increase after five hours in the emergency department. Specifically, the data showed one excess death for every 72 patients who spent between eight and 12 hours waiting for a bed.
Perspectives from Medical Leadership
Medical professionals argue that the current system is failing to meet patient needs. Dr. Ian Higginson, president of the RCEM, has described the situation as a crisis that lacks sufficient political focus. He noted that emergency departments are often overcrowded, forcing staff to prioritize less urgent cases to improve performance statistics rather than focusing on the most critically ill patients.
Prof. Nicola Ranger, general secretary and chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, described the death toll as a "catastrophe" that has persisted for too long. She emphasized that solving the issue requires long-term, systemic changes, including increased investment in hospital beds, the nursing workforce, and social care capacity. Similarly, Dr. Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, characterized the level of overcrowding and the resulting deaths as a "national shame."
Government Response and Proposed Solutions
The Department of Health and Social Care has acknowledged that long waits for emergency care are unacceptable. In response to the ongoing pressure on the NHS, a spokesperson stated that the government is investing over £215 million into 40 new and expanded same-day emergency care and urgent treatment centers across England.
Additionally, the government is deploying specialist teams to NHS trusts currently experiencing the highest levels of "corridor care"—a practice where patients are treated in hallways due to a lack of available beds—with the stated goal of eradicating the practice. While the Department of Health and Social Care noted that A&E waiting times are currently at their lowest level in five years, they confirmed that further action is required to address the root causes of the overcrowding.
Key Considerations for Patient Care
- Increased Risk: Clinical data shows that the risk of mortality increases for patients who experience extended waits in A&E, with the danger becoming more pronounced after five hours.
- Systemic Pressure: The RCEM identifies the lack of available hospital beds and gaps in social care as primary drivers of the current emergency department crisis.
- Ongoing Strategy: Government efforts are currently focused on expanding urgent treatment centers and deploying specialist teams to reduce the reliance on corridor-based care.