Elderly ‘more likely to face long waits in A&E than younger patients’

Elderly people are more likely to face long waits in A&E than younger patients, with more than a fifth waiting over 12 hours, according to data.

An analysis by the Nuffield Trust think tank shows how elderly and frail patients aged 81 and over are often worst affected by issues such as corridor care.

Experts have previously assumed that older adults spend longer in A&E because they are more likely to be admitted to hospital.

However, the study suggests that when looking at patients of all ages who are admitted, older adults are still likely to wait the longest.

A patient is classed as receiving corridor care if their treatment does not take place in a clinically appropriate and safe setting.

Appropriate settings include things such as patients having privacy as well as access to food, water and toilets.

Lights should also be able to be turned off and noise levels minimised to allow sleep.

The Nuffield Trust analysis showed that, in 2025, 43% of over-80s faced await of more than 12 hours between arrival in A&E and admission to a hospital ward, compared with 19% of those aged 21-30.

Experts further found that some health problems are much more likely to lead to long waits of more than 12 hours than others.

In 2025, people with airway or breathing issues faced these long waits (191,193, equivalent to 36% of cases), while gastrointestinal conditions (161,905 or 27%), and neurological conditions (159,897 or 36%) also led to long waits.

In May, nearly 3,000 patients every day were cared for in hospital corridors or makeshift treatment areas in England.

And in February, more than 72,000 of all patients waited over 12 hours, representing a third of all admissions.

The Nuffield Trust said it welcomed the publication of monthly corridor care figures, but said a Government focus on eliminating corridor care as a key target could encourage hospitals to act in a way that is not best for patients.

Published: 30/07/2026 by Radio NewsHub