Home / Health / England's A&E Crisis: Untreated Exits Soar
England's A&E Crisis: Untreated Exits Soar
3 Dec
Summary
- Untreated A&E departures tripled since 2019 to over 320,000.
- 12-hour waits increased 90-fold, reaching 116,141 patients.
- Private healthcare use might decrease, straining NHS further.
In England, a 'shocking' increase in patients leaving A&E departments without receiving treatment has been observed, tripling over the past six years. Between July and September 2025, over 320,000 individuals departed emergency rooms untreated, a stark rise from just under 100,000 in the same period of 2019. This escalation is largely due to overwhelming demand and prolonged waiting periods within the NHS.
Compounding this crisis, analysis reveals a 90-fold increase in patients enduring waits exceeding 12 hours, jumping from 1,281 in 2019 to 116,141 in Q3 2025. Health officials attribute this to a systemic failure in primary and community care, leading to jammed acute services and overworked staff. The situation is further complicated by potential shifts in private healthcare usage.
Experts suggest that economic pressures may cause more people to rely on the NHS for high-cost treatments, potentially exacerbating current strains. Conversely, others argue that increased NHS contracts with private providers are a false economy, depleting the workforce. The government states it is committed to ending unacceptable corridor waits by investing in urgent care services and mental health facilities.
