Almost 100,000 elderly patients endure 12
Nearly 100,000 elderly patients waited more than 12 hours on trolleys in A&E last year – including one who spent five days waiting to be admitted.
At least 16 NHS trusts said patients faced waits of two days or more, with over-65s bearing the brunt of the delays.
A freedom of information request revealed a 25-fold increase in 12-hour trolley waits for over-65s since 2019, with nearly all trusts reporting the situation had worsened.
Responses were sent from 48 of 140 hospital trusts, meaning the true numbers are likely to be far higher.
Nearly 100,000 elderly patients waited more than 12 hours on trolleys in A&E last year – including one who spent five days waiting to be admitted (File Image)
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said it showed the extent of the 'corridor care crisis' and called for a boost to bed numbers
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said it showed the extent of the 'corridor care crisis' and called for a boost to bed numbers.
READ MORE: How big are the backlogs at YOUR hospital? Use our interactive tool to find out the extent of A&E queues, size of waiting lists and cancer care delays at every trust - as public satisfaction with the NHS plummets to an all-time lowAdvertisement
He added: 'It is heartbreaking to think that so many older people are being forced to wait so long on hospital corridors, many in pain, because there aren't enough beds available. We know that long A&E waits are not just distressing for patients but can have a serious impact on their health.'
The figures show that elderly patients had an average wait of seven hours in 2023 compared with six for all patients. Seven in ten of the trusts that responded had longer average waits for pensioners than their average for all patients.
This month the Royal College of Emergency Medicine estimated that there were more than 268 excess deaths a week related to waits of 12 hours or longer in A&E last year.
Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, said: 'With record levels of pressure across the whole health and care system, and demand for beds outstripping supply, there will be times when staff are forced to deliver care outside of wards.'
Health leaders said that 5,000 extra permanent hospital beds had been created, along with more than 10,000 'hospital at home' beds, freeing up capacity on wards.
Related articles
Biden says Brown v. Board of Education ruling was about more than education
WASHINGTON (AP) — The landmark 1954 Supreme Court ruling that desegregated schools was about more th2024-05-21No positive progress in Gaza truce talks: Hamas source
GAZA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- No positive progress has been made in the Gaza truce talks on Saturday, a so2024-05-21Kaia Gerber flashes her bra in a sheer black mesh top with maxi coat as she heads out in New York
Kaia Gerber looked effortlessly chic in an-all black look as she was seen out and about in New York2024-05-21Lured by Rolling Stones performance, half
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — An extra day and the lure of an appearance by the Rolling Stones pushed attendanc2024-05-21Sweden beats France, Britain relegated after losing to Norway at hockey worlds
PRAGUE (AP) — Sweden beat France 3-1 to preserve a perfect record at the ice hockey world championsh2024-05-21Tom Brady fans in hysterics over Netflix Roast as they hail the quarterback's jokes a 10/10
Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, 46, had to be a good sport and brace himself as he got bru2024-05-21
atest comment