A&E Overcrowding Mortality
New Study Links Severe Hospital A&E Overcrowding To Hundreds Of Weekly Deaths
Anonymous
A study of more than 19,000 patients across 134 emergency departments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland found that each 10% increase in A&E occupancy was associated with a 1% rise in the risk of death within 28 days. Departments averaged 175% occupancy, and researchers estimated overcrowding may be associated with about 550 excess deaths each week, though the estimate is highly uncertain, ranging from 33 to 1,083. The study also linked corridor care with increased mortality, while researchers cautioned that the findings show an association and do not establish that overcrowding alone caused each death. Emergency medicine groups and unions called the situation unacceptable and urged governments to address overcrowding and long waits; NHS investment and improvement efforts were also cited.
Key Points
1
The research gathered data over a two-week period in March 2025 and was presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress in France.
2
The British Medical Association said the crisis was causing “moral injury” among A&E staff who could not provide the standard of care they knew patients needed. Its emergency medicine lead called the estimated toll “an absolute scandal.”
3
The Royal College of Nursing has warned that patients left on corridor trolleys may lack proper access to oxygen and other emergency equipment, while stretched staff risk missing signs that a patient is deteriorating.
4
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine said it was deploying expert teams to the most pressured trusts and investing more than £1.5 billion in hospital buildings and facilities to help them cope with year-round pressure.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
16
Articles
73
Reach
89
Topics
A
AnonymousAuthor
