Elderly individuals are increasingly experiencing extended waits of 12 hours or more in hospital emergency room corridors, according to recent data analysis by the Nuffield Trust. The study reveals that 43% of people over 80 years old endured waits of over 12 hours from arrival in the emergency room to admission to a hospital ward in 2025, compared to 19% of those aged 21 to 30.
Nuffield Trust research director, Sarah Scobie, expressed concern over the situation, highlighting the alarming statistic that a significant portion of elderly patients endure lengthy waits in unsafe conditions while already in a fragile state. This issue has become more prevalent post-pandemic, contributing to avoidable deaths. The complexity of health conditions among the elderly often prolongs the diagnostic process, leading to extended waiting times for a hospital bed.
Many individuals are subjected to prolonged delays in inadequate spaces, such as waiting rooms or makeshift areas, where access to essential amenities like food and rest is limited. The government has initiated the publication of data regarding these corridor care waits.
Dr. Ian Higginson, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, emphasized the detrimental impact of extended stays on emergency care, resulting in avoidable deaths. Efforts to address this crisis have fallen short, with diverting patients from emergency departments proving insufficient.
The prevalence of “corridor care” across the NHS has been quietly increasing since 2022, allowing ambulances to offload patients waiting outside emergency rooms to resume service promptly. Patients receiving corridor care are not in an appropriate or safe treatment setting, lacking essential facilities like privacy, food, and adequate rest conditions.
Despite recent improvements, A&E waiting time standards have deteriorated under various governments, with the NHS failing to meet the target of treating or admitting 95% of patients within four hours since July 2015. The latest data indicates that 75.4% of patients in England were attended to within four hours, showing gradual progress.
The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the need for further improvements in reducing A&E wait times. Significant investments are being made to enhance urgent and emergency care services, expand bed capacity, and offer care outside hospital settings. Strengthening the social care system is crucial for achieving optimal NHS waiting times, as highlighted by the Prime Minister’s commitment to social care reform.