A&E crisis: Nearly 1,000 deaths in Wales linked to 12-hour waits as calls grow for urgent action

New figures from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine reveal 965 deaths in 2025 were associated with long emergency department waits — an average of 18 people every week.

The total is up on the previous year, with doctors warning the scale of the crisis should send “shockwaves” through the political system.

“A matter of life and death”

Emergency medicine experts say the situation inside A&E departments has become critical.

Dr Rob Perry said many of those affected were among the most vulnerable patients — people already in need of urgent hospital care.

“Any number of avoidable deaths is a tragedy — that there were almost a thousand last year should send shockwaves,” he said.

“This is a matter of life and death.”

The report points to overcrowded hospitals, high bed occupancy and delays discharging patients as key drivers — leaving emergency departments gridlocked.t door” of emergency departments, but at the “back door” — where patients cannot be moved into wards quickly enough.

How delays are linked to deaths

The analysis suggests one death occurs for every 72 patients forced to wait 12 hours or more before being admitted.

Experts say tackling patient flow through hospitals — not just demand at the front door — is key to preventing further loss of life.

The College is now calling on all parties to commit to ending deaths associated with long waits by 2030.

Government: “Real progress” on waiting lists

The stark findings come just days after the Welsh Government published its latest NHS performance figures — highlighting improvements elsewhere in the system.

According to ministers:

• The average waiting time for treatment has fallen to around 18 weeks
• Waiting lists have dropped for eight months in a row
• January saw a record monthly fall of 27,900 patients

Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said the figures showed “real, tangible progress”.

“Health boards are delivering more appointments and more operations… making sure people are seen and treated faster,” he said.

How delays are costing lives

The analysis uses a recognised measure suggesting one death occurs for every 72 patients forced to wait 12 hours or more.

That equates to hundreds of potentially avoidable deaths each year.

The College is now calling on all political parties to commit to ending deaths linked to long A&E waits by 2030, warning that failure to act will lead to more lives lost.

More operations — but pressure remains

The Welsh Government says the improvements have been driven by:

• 187,000 extra outpatient appointments
• A record 37,000 cataract operations
• Additional £120 million funding

There have also been improvements in ambulance response times and hospital handovers.

But ministers acknowledge winter pressures remain high, with A&E departments recording one of their busiest periods on record.

Political pressure ramps up

The figures have prompted renewed criticism from the Welsh Conservatives.

Shadow Health Secretary Peter Fox said urgent action is needed.

“Every patient deserves timely care and no one should have to wait 12 hours or more,” he said.

“This data underlines the urgent need for strong, effective action.”

He reiterated calls to declare a health emergency to bring down waiting times and end corridor care.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS put the blame firmly at an overstretched social care system.

“These figures are a national scandal. Nearly a thousand people dying after waiting over 12 hours in A&E reflects a system that is fundamentally broken and causing avoidable deaths. 

“For too long, the focus has been on the front door of hospitals, when the real crisis is at the back door. Patients cannot be discharged because social care is overstretched, beds remain blocked, and A&E departments become dangerously overcrowded.

“If we are serious about ending these avoidable deaths, the next Welsh Government must properly fund social care and take a whole-system approach to fixing patient flow and funding social care properly will be a red line in any negotiations we hold with other parties.”

Two pictures of the NHS

Together, the figures paint a complex picture of the Welsh NHS.

On one hand, waiting lists are falling and more patients are being treated.

On the other, emergency departments remain under severe pressure, with long waits continuing to be linked to hundreds of deaths each year.

With a Senedd election approaching, the challenge for politicians is clear — turning progress on paper into safer care on the frontline.

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£2m upgrade begins at Glangwili Hospital to ease pressure on A&E

Hywel Dda University Health Board confirmed that contractors are now overhauling the hospital’s Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) unit after receiving £2.096m from Welsh Government.

The health board said the upgrade will create more consultation rooms, a better reception area and an improved environment for patients and staff. According to the board, the expanded SDEC service is expected to ease demand on A&E and support wider efforts to improve patient flow across its acute hospitals and the Minor Injury Unit at Prince Philip Hospital.

Project director Keith Jones, Hywel Dda’s Director of Operational Planning and Performance, said the investment would make a significant difference.

“We are very grateful to Welsh Government for the £2.096 million funding that will enable us to increase the capacity of the SDEC at Glangwili,” he said. “This, in turn, will help to reduce capacity pressures on the Emergency Department and enable our staff to provide a much smoother and swifter experience for patients in our care.”

Services on the move during building work

The health board said the refurbishment means several services have been temporarily relocated within the hospital site.

The SDEC unit, along with the Discharge Lounge and Medical Day Unit at the Priory Day Hospital, has moved to Y Lolfa (formerly Padarn Ward). The Cancer Information and Support Service (CISS) and Cancer Psychological Support Service (CaPS) have also moved, though contact details remain unchanged.

Some services — including podiatry, neuro‑rehabilitation and occupational therapy — will stay at the Priory Day Hospital, but access routes have changed while work continues.

Mr Jones said patients have been informed of any changes in their appointment letters.

“We ask patients attending any of the clinics affected to double‑check their appointment letters for information about the location of their treatment,” he said. “Thank you in advance to everyone visiting our site for their patience and understanding while the improvement works are underway.”

Welsh Government: investment will improve urgent care

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles said the funding would help improve the experience of patients needing urgent and emergency care.

“I’m pleased this £2m‑plus investment will help to reduce pressures on the emergency department and improve people’s experience when they need emergency and urgent care at Glangwili Hospital,” he said.

“Addressing overcrowding will reduce waits and handover delays, streamline flow through the hospital and improve the experience of patients and staff.”

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Hospital A&E staff celebrated as part of charity’s ‘national appreciation week’

As part of the week-long initiative running from 13– 17 October 2025, RRT volunteers visited Morriston Hospital to host a welfare event providing coffee and cakes to boost morale and show appreciation for the hard work of A&E staff. 

Over the course of the week, RRT hosted 115 coordinated events in hospitals across the country, serving more than 9,000 coffees and cakes to emergency teams. 

At Morriston Hospital, volunteers from the charity served 160 refreshments over two days, giving teams the opportunity to pause, connect with colleagues, and feel appreciated for their vital work on the frontline.

The RRT is calling for the formal designation of an annual A&E Appreciation Week, to ensure that frontline emergency staff receive the national recognition and gratitude they deserve every year.

The charity has been working closely with the local NHS team and hospital leaders to organise the event, ensuring it fit seamlessly within the busy day of the A&E department, while still giving staff the chance to take a moment away from their duties to recharge. 

The Rapid Relief Team (RRT), made up of volunteers from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, is dedicated to putting compassion into action. With over a decade of experience supporting the UK’s healthcare system, RRT regularly organises welfare events for hospital staff and marks key occasions such as International Nurses Day.

Chad Pillar, RRT Local Team Leader, said:

“It was fantastic for our volunteers to visit Morriston Hospital and see the staff’s reaction when they found out we were there to give them a bit of a different break time packed with treats.

“It was an honour to thank the incredible A&E staff for everything they do. Every day they show courage, kindness, and commitment under immense pressure.

“Through A&E Appreciation Week, we wanted to give something back – even in a small way – to show our gratitude and remind them that their work doesn’t go unnoticed.

“This is why we are calling for the formal recognition of this appreciation week so that every year we can come together as a nation to celebrate and support the dedicated people who keep our emergency departments running.”

[Lead image: Swansea Bay University Health Board]

#AccidentAndEmergency #MorristonHospital #RapidRelief #SwanseaBayNHS

Plans lodged for new Morriston Hospital access road and major campus expansion

The proposals include a full application for a 1.57km access road from junction 46 of the M4 and outline plans for a major expansion of Morriston Hospital’s clinical and research facilities.

The health board says the scheme is designed to meet rising demand for acute and specialist care, tackle waiting lists, and modernise facilities. It follows the 2021 City Deal‑backed vision for a life sciences and innovation campus at Morriston.

New access road from Felindre

The proposed single‑carriageway road would run north of Pant‑lasau Road to a new roundabout at the hospital’s northern edge. It includes a shared active‑travel path, sustainable drainage features, and new planting to reduce visual impact.

The health board says the route will ease congestion on existing approaches, improve blue‑light access to the Emergency Department, and support future public transport links from Felindre.

Campus‑style hospital expansion

The outline masterplan sets out a phased redevelopment to create an integrated “Morriston Health Campus” with new clinical, research and support buildings arranged around landscaped public spaces.

Key elements include:

• Critical Care Centre with new Emergency Department and theatres (18,000m²)
• Regional South Wales Thoracic Surgery Centre (5,000m²)
• New ward block providing six wards (9,000m²)
• Institute for Life Sciences (6,000m²) in partnership with Swansea University
• Three regional support service buildings, expanded energy and waste centres
• A central biophilic park and public arrival plaza

The design aims to connect the hospital more closely with its landscape, retain existing trees and hedgerows, and improve pedestrian and cycle links across the site.

Sustainability and access

The plans include renewable energy measures such as roof‑mounted solar panels and heat pumps, plus sustainable drainage systems designed for future climate conditions.

A relocated helipad on the roof of the Critical Care Centre is proposed to speed transfers from air ambulance to the Emergency Department.

Next steps

The application will be considered by Swansea Council. If approved, the access road would be built first, with hospital expansion phases following.

The health board says the development will “significantly enhance the hospital’s functionality, aesthetic appeal, and sustainability, making it a valuable asset to the community.”

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Welsh NHS waiting lists rise again — but ambulance handover times show marked improvement

The number of people waiting more than two years for NHS treatment in Wales has risen again, reaching 10,300 pathways in May — up 6.5% from the previous month. The overall waiting list now stands at 796,100 pathways, equivalent to nearly one in four people in Wales.

The figures have prompted criticism from opposition parties, with Welsh Conservatives accusing the Labour-led government of failing to meet its own targets. Shadow Health Secretary James Evans MS said the latest data “proves Labour’s health strategy is failing” and called for a health emergency to be declared to focus resources on reducing excessive waits.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS also condemned the figures, describing them as “a damning indictment of 25 years of Labour mismanagement in Wales.”

“These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet, they are real people left to suffer in pain, anxiety and fear. The Welsh Liberal Democrats are clear, we won’t solve the crisis in our NHS without first addressing the crisis in social care. That means ending bed blocking and also investing properly in primary care and GP services, ensuring illness is caught and treated early, not when it becomes an emergency.”

Ambulance handover times improve at Morriston and Royal Glamorgan hospitals

Despite the rise in long waits, the Welsh Government has pointed to significant improvements in ambulance patient handover times, particularly at Morriston Hospital in Swansea, where delays fell by 70% in June compared to May. At Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, handover times dropped by 87%, with nearly three-quarters of patients transferred within 15 minutes.

Health Secretary Jeremy Miles, who visited Royal Glamorgan on Thursday, said the figures show that “our focus on improving ambulance patient handover performance is working,” and praised staff for their efforts.

A national taskforce has been established to tackle handover delays across Wales, aiming to free up ambulance crews and improve emergency department flow. The Welsh Ambulance Service also introduced a new purple category for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests on 1 July, alongside revised triage categories for other urgent conditions.

Cancer treatment and emergency care pressures

In May, more than 1,900 people started cancer treatment, and over 14,200 were told they did not have cancer, as performance against the 62-day target improved to 61.3%. However, emergency departments remain under pressure, with June recording the third-highest daily attendances on record. More than 10,000 patients waited over 12 hours in A&E — still far from meeting government targets.

Miles acknowledged the setback in long waits but said they are now 85% lower than the peak, and expressed confidence that the next set of figures will show renewed progress.

Local health board variation

According to Welsh Government data, Swansea Bay and Powys health boards currently have no pathways waiting longer than two years, while Hywel Dda and Aneurin Bevan each have fewer than 300 such cases. In contrast, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board continues to report the highest number of long waits in Wales.

#AE #AccidentAndEmergency #ambulance #ambulanceWaitingTime #healthEmergency #hospitalWaitingList #HywelDdaNHS #JamesEvansMS #Llantrisant #MorristonHospital #NHS #NHSWaitingList #RoyalGlamorganHospital #SwanseaBayNHS #waitingList #WelshAmbulanceServiceTrust #WelshConservatives #WelshGovernment