Age UK has issued a strong call for Ministers to commit to a firm deadline for eradicating 'corridor care' within the National Health Service. The charity's new report, 'The Longest Wait - Our A&E Crisis Demands an Emergency Response', details the escalating crisis of prolonged A&E waits and their severe consequences, particularly for older individuals.
According to the report, a staggering one in three (32%) of those aged 90 and older faced waits of 12 hours or more in A&E either for admission to a ward or discharge in the 2024/25 financial year. This figure underscores a systemic issue that has seen the number of instances of 'corridor care' lasting 12 hours or more skyrocket by 525-fold since 2015/16. In total, 1.15 million people aged 60 and over experienced these extended A&E delays in the last year alone.
The charity highlights that while long waits affect all age groups, older people, especially the very elderly and those with critical illnesses, are disproportionately impacted. Age UK has collected numerous harrowing accounts from individuals forced to endure treatment, tests, and life-altering news without privacy or in undignified conditions. These include reports of patients using bedpans in corridors, being left in uncomfortable chairs for extended periods, and even witnessing others die while waiting for a ward bed.
The emotional and psychological toll on patients is significant. A recent survey of Age UK supporters revealed that a third would be less inclined to seek hospital care due to concerns about 'corridor care', with 53% stating they would feel increased anxiety if they found themselves in such a situation. Furthermore, polling of UK residents aged 65 and over indicated that 89% believe 'corridor care' is undignified and unsafe, particularly for older patients, with 79% agreeing that patients should never be cared for in corridors under any circumstances.
Age UK's findings present a critical challenge to the government and NHS leadership, urging immediate action to address the underlying causes of these persistent delays. The charity contends that this 'crisis hiding in plain sight' demands an urgent and comprehensive response to safeguard the dignity and well-being of older patients across the country.