The number of people who waited more than 12 hours in A&E departments in England has reached record levels as experts warn the long waits are contributing to rising numbers of extra deaths.
New NHS figures show that 12 hour waits from a decision to admit to being admitted increased by 23 percent – to 54,308 people – in January compared with December – the second highest figure on record.
Previous research has shown long A&E delays are contributing to up to 340 extra – or unnecessary – deaths a week.
At the same time, the number of people in England who have waited more than 18 months to start routine hospital treatment nearly doubled in six months in 2023 from 7,079 in July to 13,164 in December.
This news comes as latest NHS figures show 7.6m health treatments were waiting to be carried out in England at the end of December.
The grim figures are set to be compounded by a new wave of junior doctors strikes.
Thousands of medics are planning to walk out from 24 – 28 February in the 10th wave of junior doctor strike action since March last year.
More than 100,000 patients in England face having their NHS care cancelled as a result.
The growing NHS waits are piling pressure on Rishi Sunak who has been accused of holding up a deal over pay, to urgently resolve the bitter standoff. Last week he admitted he had failed on his leadership pledge to cut NHS waiting lists after months of strikes by NHS staff.
Dr Katherine Henderson, former president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine said: “We are juggling risks between patients because the hospitals are jammed up.”
She added: “These problems have in part been caused by the cancellation of elective (planned) procedures since Covid which has meant there are fewer beds. There is no sign of recovery when you look at those numbers. It’s terrible and dysfunctional. We cannot get patients through the system and we also have a crisis in social care making things worse. We need to be honest about how difficult things are getting. We have no reason to think things will get any easier over the next few months.”
Professor Carl Heneghan, an urgent care GP and Director of Oxford University’s Centre of Evidence Based Medicine, said: “We have a growing ageing population, increased migration, increasing numbers of people with multiple chronic health problems, 7.6 million on the waiting list for treatment and long A@E waits. Put that together with the junior doctors strike and you have the perfect storm of problems.”
He added: “The longer the waits the more deadly it is. We urgently need to find ways to stop clogging up A@E departments otherwise we will continue to be overwhelmed.”
And he urged: “The government has to come to an agreement. It is unacceptable to play with people’s lives.”
Last week LBC radio reported the case of a mother-of-two who collapsed and died after having suffered a fatal haemorrhage at a crowded A&E department.
The 39-year-old had been waiting for at least seven hours at Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham before she was discovered unconscious under a coat.
A&E staff said the long waiting times at the department may have contributed to her death.
A hospital spokesman said they have launched an internal investigation into the woman’s death.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director, said: “It has been an extremely challenging winter so far with 2 periods of industrial action, including the longest strike in NHS history last month.”
He added: “The NHS is seeing more patients coming forward with complex and severe conditions.”
