More than 50,000 elderly patients aged over 80 faced waits of up to three days for hospital beds last year, according to a recent analysis by Age UK. The distressing figures underscore a growing crisis within the National Health Service (NHS), revealing that some patients endured agonizing delays while receiving inadequate care.
The data, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, indicates that approximately 101,972 individuals aged 65 and older waited between one and three days for a bed after a decision to admit them to hospital was made. Of these, 53,870 were over 80 years old. Reports from patients highlight harrowing experiences, including being left on the floor and having to wash in toilet sinks while awaiting admission to a ward.
Age UK has described these conditions as becoming routine in certain NHS hospitals. Caroline Abrahams, the charity’s director, expressed her concerns, stating, “Waiting for more than 24 hours, often on a hard chair in a corridor or other overspill area, when you are extremely unwell… would be horrific at any age, let alone if you are in your eighties or beyond.”
The state of emergency in NHS hospitals is further illustrated by individual accounts. One patient, identified only as David, recounted how he spent 30 hours in A&E, unable to move due to a lack of available beds. Another patient, Michael, aged 80, described lying on a trolley for 16 hours after suffering a heart attack, without basic comforts like blankets or pillows. Jennifer, 76, faced a staggering 36-hour wait with no proper washing facilities, forced to clean herself in a toilet sink.
Urgent Call for Government Action
The analysis comes amid growing concern over the NHS’s ability to provide adequate care. A recent report by the Royal College of Nursing warned that deteriorating care standards are pushing staff morale “almost past the point of no return.” Footage from Queen’s Hospital in east London, aired by ITV, further illustrates the dire situation, with patients waiting in corridors for treatment.
Age UK is now urging the government to develop a funded plan with specific deadlines to reduce long waits in A&E and eradicate corridor care. The charity advocates for the appointment of a minister responsible for addressing these critical issues, requiring regular reports to Parliament every six months.
According to NHS England’s latest figures, the number of individuals waiting more than 12 hours in A&E departments slightly increased to 50,775 in December, up from 50,648 in November. Furthermore, the number waiting at least four hours from the decision to admit to actual admission rose to 137,763, increasing from 133,799 the previous month. Currently, 73.8% of patients are seen within four hours, a slight decline from 74.2% in November.
The Road Ahead for NHS Reform
The government and NHS England aim for 78% of patients attending A&E to be admitted, discharged, or transferred within four hours by March 2026. Caroline Abrahams emphasized the urgency of addressing these issues, noting, “We should all be ashamed that this is what we’ve come to in some hospitals… the sooner the Government makes a start, the quicker we’ll restore a sense of decency.”
Rory Deighton, acute and community care director at the NHS Confederation, described the situation as “deeply shocking.” He emphasized that corridor care not only compromises patient dignity and safety but also affects the morale of NHS staff, who feel unable to provide the quality of care they aspire to deliver.
Health leaders continue to address the root causes of corridor care, focusing on improving patient discharge processes and collaborating with local authorities to enhance social care support. Despite these efforts, the challenges in social care remain significant, and without resolution, the persistence of such practices appears inevitable.
The situation within the NHS requires urgent attention and substantial reform to ensure that vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly, receive the care they deserve.
