Overcrowded A&Es cause up to 1,000 deaths a week

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 25, 2026

A study of emergency departments across the UK found that overcrowding, with facilities operating at 175% capacity, may cause up to 1,000 excess deaths weekly due to increased patient mortality linked to high occupancy and corridor care. Experts warn that without major reforms to reduce crowding and improve patient flow, these preventable deaths will persist, prompting calls for urgent health system changes.

A recent study has found that overcrowding in emergency departments across the United Kingdom may be contributing to as many as 1,000 excess deaths each week. Researchers presented their findings at the European Emergency Medicine Congress (EUSEM) in Paris, highlighting the correlation between emergency department occupancy levels and patient mortality within 28 days of admission.

The study analyzed data from 19,034 patients treated at 134 emergency departments in Wales, Northern Ireland, and England during 2025, covering approximately 70 percent of all UK A&Es. It found that for every 10 percent increase in department occupancy beyond capacity, the risk of patient death rose by 1 percent. Researchers estimated that overcrowding led to between 554 and 1,083 avoidable deaths weekly compared to a scenario where every patient had an individual treatment space.

Emergency departments involved in the study were operating on average at 175 percent of their capacity, reflecting a significant strain on available resources. Dr. Ian Higginson, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, described the ongoing overcrowding situation as an “utterly normalised and unacceptable state of affairs.”

Dr. Ryan McHenry, an emergency physician affiliated with the University of Glasgow, characterized the relationship between crowding and mortality as a serious concern. He noted that although the study covered the majority of UK emergency departments, its relatively limited scope means the precise number of excess deaths remains uncertain, with a plausible range between 33 and 1,083 per week. Dr. McHenry emphasized the importance of addressing emergency department crowding to reduce unnecessary loss of life and indicated that the research team is actively engaging with government bodies to inform health policy.

The study also examined the effects of “corridor care,” a practice in which patients receive treatment in makeshift or non-clinical areas due to a lack of standard cubicles or rooms. This approach was similarly associated with increased mortality rates, underscoring the risks involved when emergency departments are forced to provide care outside traditional settings.

Dr. Felix Lorang, a member of the EUSEM abstract selection committee, pointed to systemic issues such as “exit block,” where patient flow stalls because of insufficient inpatient bed availability, further exacerbating emergency department pressures. He stated that the findings underscore the grave consequences of overcrowding and corridor care, noting that many patients’ survival is compromised when emergency departments operate beyond capacity.

The study’s authors and other experts caution that without significant interventions to alleviate overcrowding and improve patient flow, these excess deaths are likely to continue, reinforcing the need for urgent systemic reforms in emergency care provision throughout the UK.

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.