# 1.7 million waited for more than 12 hours for A&E care last year – review

By Dr Sarah Holmes — 2026-09-08

According to the National Audit Office (NAO), in 2025, over 1.7 million patients waited between 12 and 24 hours from their arrival in A&E to be discharged, transferred or admitted. Dr Sarah Holmes, chief medical officer at Marie Curie has argued that investment in palliative and end of life care at home and in the community will help to reduce these waiting times.

She said: “No one who is seriously ill or approaching the end of life should face a long and distressing wait in a crowded A&E department, particularly when delays can put patients at greater risk. Sadly, visits to emergency care are already an all-too-common experience for dying people, with our research showing that 53 per cent of people who die visit A&E at least once during their final three months. Too often, A&E becomes the default place people turn to in a crisis because the support they need is not available elsewhere.

“As this report makes clear, reducing these waits will require action across the whole health and care system, including proper investment in palliative and end of life care at home and in the community. When expert support is available during the night and at weekends, people are less likely to reach crisis point and can receive compassionate care in the right place, while easing avoidable pressure on A&E departments.”

Canonical: https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/243/views/65cc2933fdb218de