A shocking revelation has come to light, highlighting the dire state of emergency care in England. One in ten patients who sought treatment at major A&E units last year endured waits exceeding 12 hours, a BBC analysis has uncovered. This alarming trend persisted throughout 2025, with a staggering 1.75 million patients facing such prolonged delays, only marginally improving from the previous year.
The Royal College of Nursing has issued a stark warning, emphasizing the devastating impact of long waits and the practice of "corridor care," where patients are left for hours in makeshift areas. Union members across the UK have shared harrowing testimonies, describing unsafe and undignified conditions. One nurse's poignant comparison to the treatment of animals at veterinary clinics underscores the severity of the situation.
The government acknowledges the unacceptability of these conditions but attributes it to the challenges inherited. Health Secretary Wes Streeting recognizes the persistence of corridor care, admitting that the NHS is "falling short." He vows to end this practice before the end of the parliamentary term and promises increased transparency through the publication of relevant data.
But here's where it gets controversial... While Streeting highlights improvements in certain areas, such as ambulance response times, the issue of corridor care remains a glaring concern. RCN members express feelings of shame and embarrassment, describing patients crammed into corridors and treated in unconventional spaces like kitchens and side rooms. One nurse shares a tragic story of a patient who choked undetected in a corridor, while others speak of the indignity of performing intimate procedures with makeshift privacy screens.
"It breaks my heart," shares a nurse from the north-west, describing the prolonged waits for elderly patients. Another nurse from the south-west describes the system as broken, likening the patient experience to a form of torture. The question arises: If we wouldn't treat animals this way, why is it acceptable for humans in a hospital setting?
RCN General Secretary Prof Nicola Ranger emphasizes the devastating human consequences of these pressures, evidenced by the recent spate of critical incidents declared by hospitals. Managers at Nottingham University Hospital, for instance, apologized for the unacceptable delays in A&E, where patients were left on corridors.
The BBC has witnessed the impact firsthand, capturing the relentless pressure and daily challenges faced by staff at Leicester Royal Infirmary. Doctors and nurses struggle to find beds for vulnerable patients, with older individuals often waiting overnight on plastic chairs for extended periods. Patricia, in her seventies, experienced severe chest pain after a fall and endured a nine-hour wait on a chair, feeling tired and confused.
Another patient, Ann, arrived by ambulance and faced a 48-hour wait for a ward bed, despite receiving commendable care. The lack of appropriate beds forced specialist staff to oversee her rehabilitation in the emergency department.
"This is not the level of care we want to give," asserts Scott Knapp, a consultant in the emergency department. The monthly data published by NHS England reveals a slight improvement, with 10.1% of patients waiting 12 hours or more in 2025, compared to 10.5% in 2024. However, the issue extends beyond England, with all UK nations facing similar challenges.
And this is the part most people miss... While the focus is often on emergency care, the waiting list for planned hospital treatments, such as knee and hip operations, is also a cause for concern. At the end of November 2025, 7.31 million patients were on this waiting list, a slight decrease from the previous month but still a significant number. NHS England's evaluation of its support program for areas with high economic inactivity rates shows some progress, with a 4.2% reduction in the waiting list over the past year in the 20 areas with the worst joblessness.
The situation is complex, and while there are signs of improvement, the human stories behind these statistics cannot be ignored. What are your thoughts on the state of emergency care and the broader healthcare system? Do you believe enough is being done to address these issues? Share your opinions and let's spark a conversation about the future of healthcare in the UK.
