A recent study by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) has revealed a staggering 14,000 excess deaths in the UK in 2023, attributed to prolonged waits in accident and emergency (A&E) units. The research utilized the Standard Mortality Ratio method, estimating that one additional death occurs for every 72 patients who endure an eight-to-twelve-hour wait before being admitted.
In 2023 alone, over 1.5 million patients faced waits of twelve hours or more, with an average of more than 268 deaths each week resulting from these delays. Adrian Boyle, president of the RCEM, poignantly stated, \"We talk here about ratios and calculations, but it is vital to remember that each one of these deaths was of a person with loved ones and families who will forever be left asking 'what if'.\"
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) has set a goal to ensure that 76 percent of patients are admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours by March 2024 as part of its urgent and emergency care recovery plan. However, the RCEM findings indicate that by February 2024, only 56.5 percent of patients met this four-hour target, marking a decline of 1.5 percentage points since the plan's inception.
Boyle emphasized the urgent need for change, stating, \"We cannot continue with these inequalities in care, avoidable delays, and deaths.\" He called for substantial investment and a renewed commitment to revitalizing emergency care services for both healthcare professionals and patients.
Reference(s):
Research finds 14,000 excess deaths relating to long A&E waits in UK
cgtn.com
