NHS Crisis: 12-Hour A&E Waits Hit Record High

The number of patients experiencing prolonged waits of over 12 hours in NHS A&E departments has surged to a record high. In January, 71,517 individuals waited more than 12 hours for a hospital bed after the decision to admit them, a significant rise from December's figure of 50,775. This marks the highest number recorded since monthly statistics began in August 2010.

Despite these critical A&E delays, overall NHS waiting lists have seen a reduction for the second consecutive month. Figures indicate approximately 7.29 million treatments were pending at the end of December 2025, down from 7.31 million in November. However, experts like those at the Nuffield Trust have raised concerns about the methods used for these reductions, particularly "list cleaning," which involves removing patients who no longer require treatment for various reasons. The government has spent over £18.8 million on such validation exercises between April and September 2025.

NHS England reported a record-breaking 18.4 million treatments and operations were delivered in 2025, an increase from the previous year. December alone saw 1.43 million treatments, even with industrial action. A&E attendances in January also reached a record high of 2,320,266. Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting highlighted these achievements as evidence of the NHS being on the road to recovery, attributing progress to investment and staff dedication.

However, concerns about capacity and overcrowding persist. Dr. Vicky Price of the Society for Acute Medicine stated that long waits in A&E are worsening, particularly for vulnerable patients. She noted that reduced bed capacity, staffing shortages, and financial constraints are compounding pressure, indicating a capacity issue rather than a performance problem. Tim Gardner from the Health Foundation echoed these sentiments, describing the situation as "mixed fortunes" with overwhelmed A&E departments despite a shrinking waiting list.