The statistics obtained by The Telegraph following FIOI requests show there were 478,901 waits of 24 hours or more in England in 2024, up by 27% on the previous year.

Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), told HM: ‘The highest ever number of patients experiencing waits of 24 hours or more is a source of national shame. 

‘These patients, through no fault of their own, are enduring hours and hours on trolleys, often in corridors or other inappropriate spaces that weren't designed to provide care in. 

‘It's nothing short of a catastrophe. As it's not just undignified and frustrating for patients – it is dangerous.

‘Our analysis shows there were more than 16,600 deaths associated with long A&E stays before admission in England last year, which is a 20% increase compared on the year before.

‘The Government's 10-Year Plan for the NHS expected this week must put in place a strategy which will address this crisis. More lives are at risk if it doesn't.'

The NHS Constitution in 2010 pledged at least 95% of patients attending A&E should be admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.

The Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26 on 13 June 2025 introduced a minimum target of 78% of patients who attend A&E to be admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.

On top of this, the UEC Care Plan pledged reducing the number of patients waiting over 12 hours for admission or discharge from an emergency department compared to 2024/25, to less than 10% and reducing the number of patients who remain in an emergency department for longer than 24 hours while awaiting a mental health admission.