What's happened
Analyses from the Nuffield Trust show 43% of over-80s faced waits of more than 12 hours from A&E arrival to ward admission in 2025, far higher than younger patients. Officials warn long delays persist amid bed shortages and social care gaps, with nearly 3,000 daily corridor care cases in May.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- The data confirms that older patients face the longest waits across the board, challenging the belief that longer hospital stays are solely due to higher admission rates.
- The figures imply a structural failure in patient flow, where bed availability and timely discharge depend on external care capacity, not just hospital performance.
- What readers can watch: how policymakers address bed capacity and social care integration to reduce corridor care; improvements tend to require cross-department action and funding shifts.
- Forecast: without substantial reform, corridor care will remain a defining feature of NHS emergency care, with ongoing risk to patient safety and satisfaction.
How we got here
The Nuffield Trust has published monthly corridor care figures, highlighting prolonged A&E waits for the elderly and the systemic issues behind the problem, including bed shortages and social care gaps that delay discharges.
Our analysis
The Independent reports that 43% of over-80s face waits over 12 hours in 2025, compared with 19% of ages 21-30, citing Nuffield Trust data. The Mirror reiterates these findings, noting 3,000 daily corridor care cases in May and highlighting concerns from RCEM president Dr. Ian Higginson about long stays and the need for systemic change. Both outlets quote Sarah Scobie, Nuffield Trust, and reference ongoing government efforts to publish corridor care figures.
Go deeper
- How should households prepare if a loved one faces long A&E waits?
- What can readers do to influence local NHS trusts or social care provision?
- Which reforms are most likely to reduce corridor care in the coming months?
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Royal College of Emergency Medicine - Professional association
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