Health
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NHS: 10-Day Trolley Waits Crisis for Seniors
## NHS Crisis: Seniors Bear Brunt of 10-Day A&E Trolley Waits
Elderly patients in England are disproportionately affected by lengthy waits in A&E departments, with some enduring waits of up to 10 days for a hospital bed, according to new data. Analysis of freedom of information requests by the Liberal Democrats reveals a stark picture of the NHS crisis.
Almost 70% of the 48,830 "trolley waits" exceeding 24 hours in 2024 involved patients aged 65 or older. This represents a significant increase compared to previous years, with 40,735 such waits in 2023 and 30,921 in 2022. The data, from 54 of England's 141 NHS trusts, likely underrepresents the true scale of the problem. One trust, East Kent, reported 8,916 waits of 24 hours or more, a dramatic rise from just 30 in 2019.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) described the figures as only "scratching the surface" of a "crisis in corridor care," citing a lack of beds forcing patients into hospital hallways. The RCN attributes the crisis partly to declining nursing recruitment. Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN general secretary and chief executive, called corridor care "undignified and unsafe," demanding its eradication. The Lib Dems propose establishing a team of experienced NHS managers to assist struggling trusts.
The government acknowledges the unacceptable wait times but insists resolving the issue "will take time." A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson highlighted actions taken to mitigate the problem, including the introduction of a new RSV vaccine, delivery of over 27 million Covid and flu vaccines, and the end of healthcare worker strikes. They also emphasize ongoing NHS reforms aimed at providing more community care to reduce A&E pressure. However, Lib Dem health spokesperson Helen Morgan criticized the government's response, stating the Labour government's approach "has not survived contact with reality." The substantial increase in trolley waits since 2019, a 71-fold increase according to the Lib Dems, underscores the urgency of the situation.
Elderly patients in England are disproportionately affected by lengthy waits in A&E departments, with some enduring waits of up to 10 days for a hospital bed, according to new data. Analysis of freedom of information requests by the Liberal Democrats reveals a stark picture of the NHS crisis.
Almost 70% of the 48,830 "trolley waits" exceeding 24 hours in 2024 involved patients aged 65 or older. This represents a significant increase compared to previous years, with 40,735 such waits in 2023 and 30,921 in 2022. The data, from 54 of England's 141 NHS trusts, likely underrepresents the true scale of the problem. One trust, East Kent, reported 8,916 waits of 24 hours or more, a dramatic rise from just 30 in 2019.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) described the figures as only "scratching the surface" of a "crisis in corridor care," citing a lack of beds forcing patients into hospital hallways. The RCN attributes the crisis partly to declining nursing recruitment. Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN general secretary and chief executive, called corridor care "undignified and unsafe," demanding its eradication. The Lib Dems propose establishing a team of experienced NHS managers to assist struggling trusts.
The government acknowledges the unacceptable wait times but insists resolving the issue "will take time." A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson highlighted actions taken to mitigate the problem, including the introduction of a new RSV vaccine, delivery of over 27 million Covid and flu vaccines, and the end of healthcare worker strikes. They also emphasize ongoing NHS reforms aimed at providing more community care to reduce A&E pressure. However, Lib Dem health spokesperson Helen Morgan criticized the government's response, stating the Labour government's approach "has not survived contact with reality." The substantial increase in trolley waits since 2019, a 71-fold increase according to the Lib Dems, underscores the urgency of the situation.
