Nearly 49,000 patients were left waiting 24 hours or more in A&E last year before being admitted to a hospital bed, with elderly individuals making up the overwhelming majority, according to analysis by the Liberal Democrats.
The figures, obtained through Freedom of Information requests to 54 NHS trusts in England, highlight a growing crisis in emergency care.
The data shows that of the 48,830 “trolley waits” recorded in 2024 – where a patient remains in A&E after a decision to admit has been made – almost 70% (33,413) involved patients aged 65 or over. In some extreme cases, waits stretched to as long as 10 days.
While the figures are alarming, the party warned that the true scale of the problem is likely far greater, given that only 54 of England’s 141 NHS trusts responded with full data.
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust recorded the highest number of such delays, with 8,916 patients left waiting 24 hours or more – a staggering increase from just 30 in 2019. Liverpool University Hospitals Trust followed with 4,315 cases, up from 10 before the pandemic.
In response, the Liberal Democrats are calling for the deployment of a specialised team of “super-heads” – senior NHS leaders tasked with turning around the worst-performing trusts through direct intervention and shared best practices.
‘Undignified and Unsafe’: Nursing Leaders Demand Urgent Reform
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has expressed grave concern over the figures, stating they “barely scratch the surface” of a systemic issue. Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, said:
“A single patient waiting more than 24 hours is unacceptable. Tens of thousands show that corridor care has become a year-round crisis. It is undignified, unsafe, and must be eradicated.”
She warned that chronic staff shortages, particularly in nursing, are compounding the issue and urged the government to acknowledge the full extent of the crisis if meaningful reform is to take place.
Government Pledges Long-Term Fixes Amid Mounting Pressure
The Department of Health and Social Care said it was “determined” to put an end to prolonged A&E delays and reiterated its commitment to reforming urgent care services.
A spokesperson said:
“No patient should have to wait 24 hours to be admitted. We’re taking action to cut emergency care waiting times, including rolling out vaccines and resolving industrial disputes to ensure staff are on wards, not picket lines.”
The government pointed to efforts such as delivering over 27 million Covid and flu jabs and launching new respiratory vaccines as steps taken to reduce hospital pressure.
The health department also cited its Plan for Change, aimed at shifting more care into the community to prevent unnecessary A&E visits and improve outcomes for those who do require emergency treatment.
Liberal Democrat Health Spokeswoman Helen Morgan criticised both the Conservatives and Labour, accusing the current government of “shameful neglect” and Labour of “hoping things will improve without action.”
She said:
“Patients deserve dignity – not to be left waiting in overcrowded corridors or makeshift waiting rooms. The Government must act to ensure this is the final winter crisis the NHS faces.”
East Kent Hospitals Trust responded to the findings by acknowledging increased pressure on services, stating:
“We have seen higher numbers of attendances across our three hospitals. We’re sorry patients are waiting longer than we would like in our emergency departments.”
