A&E overcrowding linked to 550 excess deaths a week

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, September 26, 2026

A study has found that overcrowding in emergency departments across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland is linked to an estimated 550 excess deaths each week, with departments operating at nearly double their capacity. The findings highlight the urgent need to reduce crowding and corridor care in A&E to prevent avoidable deaths, prompting calls for immediate policy action and NHS measures to ease pressure on emergency services.

A recent study has linked overcrowding in accident and emergency (A&E) departments across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to approximately 550 excess deaths each week. The research, which analyzed data from more than 19,000 patients in 134 emergency departments over a two-week period in March last year, found that a 10 percentage point increase in department occupancy was associated with a 1 percent rise in the risk of death within 28 days.

Emergency departments in the study were operating at an average of 175 percent occupancy, meaning they were treating nearly twice as many patients as their official capacity. Dr. Ryan McHenry, a researcher from the University of Glasgow involved in the study, noted that while the figure of 550 excess deaths is an estimate with considerable uncertainty—ranging between 33 and 1,083 deaths per week—the association between overcrowding and increased mortality was clear. He emphasized that reducing crowding in emergency departments could potentially save lives.

The study also highlighted the risks linked to “corridor care,” where patients receive treatment in areas not designed for clinical use. This practice was found to carry a similar increase in mortality risk.

These findings were presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress in France. Dr. Felix Lorang, part of the congress’s abstract selection committee, commented on the systemic pressures facing emergency services, citing that many departments operate well beyond capacity and that a shortage of inpatient beds delays the transfer of patients out of A&E.

Dr. Ian Higginson, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, described the results as a cause for significant concern. He warned that preventable deaths occurring in association with A&E overcrowding reflect a normalized but unacceptable situation and urged policymakers to address the issue with urgency.

Responding to the study, a spokesperson for the UK health department acknowledged that the National Health Service (NHS) experienced its busiest summer to date. They noted that 75 percent of patients attending A&E in August were seen within four hours and affirmed that the government is taking urgent measures aimed at easing pressure on emergency departments and eliminating corridor care.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.