In 2024, nearly 49,000 patients experienced waits of 24 hours or more in Accident & Emergency (A&E), with those aged 65 and older accounting for nearly 70% of these cases.

The Liberal Democrats highlighted that out of the 48,830 recorded 'trolley waits', 33,413 involved patients aged 65 and over, underscoring the significant impact on the elderly.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the ongoing efforts to reform the NHS, stating that no patient should wait 24 hours in A&E.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) emphasized the need for transparency from the NHS and government regarding the scale of the problem, calling any extended wait unacceptable.

The RCN further noted that the reported figures reflect a larger crisis in 'corridor care', highlighting the importance of nursing staff in addressing this issue.

In response to the crisis, the Liberal Democrats proposed the introduction of experienced 'super-heads' to manage struggling NHS trusts and improve care standards.

East Kent NHS Trust reported the highest number of long trolley waits at 8,916 in 2024, a dramatic increase from just 30 in 2019, while Liverpool University Hospitals Trust recorded 4,315 waits, up from 10 in 2019.

Data analyzed by the Liberal Democrats revealed that some patients waited as long as 10 days for a hospital ward after being admitted.

The actual number of patients waiting over 24 hours is likely higher, as only 54 out of 141 NHS trusts provided complete data in response to Freedom of Information requests.

Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrats' health and social care spokesperson, criticized the current state of patient care and urged the government to end corridor care by the end of the parliamentary term.

The UK Government has prioritized reducing NHS waiting lists and claims to have implemented measures such as vaccination campaigns and improving pay deals for healthcare workers to protect A&E services.

A 'trolley wait' refers to the duration a patient spends waiting on a trolley in A&E before being admitted to a ward after a decision has been made to admit them.