# Overcrowding in UK’s A&E departments ‘increases risk of death’

By Dr Sam Royston — 2026-09-24

As a new study has found that overcrowding in A&E departments and corridor care is linked to hundreds of deaths every week in the UK, Dr Sam Royston, Marie Curie’s executive director of research and policy, argues that better care and support in the community is required.

He said: “Too many people approaching the end of life end up in A&E simply because they cannot access the care and support they need in the community, particularly out of hours. Investing in community services would help more people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time, while easing pressure on overstretched A&E departments and hospital wards.

“The UK Government is set to publish a new framework for palliative and end of life care, which promises to address many of the urgent issues facing dying people in England today. But this must come with a dedicated funding package to support delivery. Our recommendation is a three year, £200 million a year, transformation fund focused on redesigning services and scaling proven models of care. Without this, it will be difficult to achieve the urgently needed shift from hospital-based care to community-based care.

“The newly elected governments in Scotland and Wales must also now follow through on the commitments made in their Programmes for Government to fix palliative and end of life care for all. Ahead of next year’s election in Northern Ireland, all parties must commit to the action needed to improve end of life care.”

Canonical: https://experts.pressassociation.com/expert/246/views/31aab3e8d3c60cb1