The elderly are significantly more likely than younger patients to endure long waits in A&E, according to new research, with delays often compounded by "corridor care", where treatment is delivered in unsuitable settings lacking privacy, food, water or toilet access. This disparity matters because it highlights how the NHS's capacity pressures fall disproportionately on the oldest and most vulnerable patients, raising concerns about safety and dignity for a group already at greater health risk.

Research by the Nuffield Trust think-tank found that in 2025, 43 per cent of patients aged over 80 waited more than 12 hours between arriving at A&E and being admitted to a hospital ward, compared with just 19 per cent of those aged 21 to 30. A separate figure cited found 40 per cent of patients aged 81 and over waited more than 12 hours to be seen at all, with experts identifying certain health conditions as far more likely to result in these extended delays.