The RCEM's report says there were at least 15,860 excess deaths associated with long waiting times in English EDs in 2025, equivalent to 305 lives each week.

Dr Ian Higginson, president of the RCEM, said: ‘The number of deaths linked to long stays in our emergency departments explicitly show the system is failing the patients it is meant to be caring for. It's shocking.'

Dr Higginson said trusts were being forced to focus on the least sick patients to try and marginally improve headline statistics, ‘rather than on those who need our services the most'.

He added: ‘It's frustrating that we continue to see a lack of solutions designed to tackle the root causes of the problem at the "back door" of our hospitals. Instead, we are fobbed off with recycled ideas that haven't ever worked, performance data that doesn't reflect reality, and a focus on perceived "quick fixes".  

‘Whilst we welcome the Government's stated commitment to eliminate corridor care, until we prioritise patients who experience long waits for admission, we will not get to the bottom of the whole issue.'

While the number of deaths is slightly lower than 2024 (16,644), the estimated mortality figure increased almost tenfold when compared to 2015 (1,657). 

Further analysis reveals nearly half a million people (489,138) waited 24 hours or more in EDs across England up by around 150,000 patients in three years.  

RCN general secretary and chief executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said: ‘To bring this to an end, we need system-wide, long-term, sustainable solutions.  This must include urgent investment in hospital beds and the nursing workforce, while also improving access to primary care, investing in community nursing and unlocking capacity in social care.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘It is unacceptable for patients to face long waits for emergency care, and our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones.

‘While A&E waiting times are at their lowest level in half a decade, we know there is more to do. That is why we are investing over £215m in 40 new and expanded same-day emergency care and urgent treatment centres across England to reduce pressure on A&E.

‘We are also deploying specialist teams to trusts with the highest levels of corridor care to drive rapid improvements and eradicate the unacceptable practice.

‘After the NHS delivered a stronger performance this winter despite record demand, we are going further to modernise urgent and emergency care, backed by record investment.'