Age UK Bradford District Urges Government to set date to end Corridor Care following Parliamentary Briefing

Age UK Bradford District has today reiterated its call for urgent Government action to end corridor care, following a parliamentary briefing with MPs and Ministers held on Wednesday 21st January. 

At the briefing, the charity highlighted new evidence from Age UK’s report The Longest Wait – Our A&E Crisis Demands an Emergency Response, which exposes the scale and human cost of long A&E waits and corridor care, particularly for older people. 

The data shows that: 

• One in three people aged 90 and over (32%) waited 12 hours or more in A&E to be admitted or discharged home in 2024/25. 

• 1.15 million people aged 60 and over experienced waits of 12 hours or more in A&E in 2024/25. 

• The number of instances of corridor care lasting 12 hours or more has increased 525‑fold since 2015/16. 

• Between 2019/20 and 2024/25, attendances resulting in a 12‑hour wait for a bed increased by almost 2000%. 

• Last year alone, 532,451 people experienced corridor care lasting 12 hours or more. 

Age UK Bradford District told parliamentarians that while people of all ages are affected by overcrowded A&E departments, older people are disproportionately impacted, including those who are extremely unwell or approaching the end of life. 

The charity shared testimonies from older people who have been treated in corridors without privacy or dignity, some forced to use bedpans in public spaces, others left on hard chairs or even the floor for extended periods. In the most tragic cases, some older people have died before ever reaching a ward. 

One 86‑year‑old person described being left in a disused corridor for 36 hours. Others reported waiting in corridors for days, witnessing people becoming seriously unwell or dying nearby while they waited for care. 

Age UK Bradford District also made clear at the briefing that the charity can be part of the solution. Providing early, preventative support in the community reduces avoidable hospital admissions and keeps older people healthier for longer. Through trusted advice on benefits and entitlements, practical and social support, and help navigating health and care services, the charity addresses problems before they escalate into crises. This preventative work not only improves older people’s quality of life but also eases pressure on overstretched hospitals and A&E departments. 

Age UK Bradford District also highlighted polling shared with MPs showing the wider impact of the crisis: 

• A third of Age UK supporters said they would now be less likely to go to hospital because of corridor care. 

• 53% said they would feel anxious if they had to attend A&E. 

• 89% of people aged 65+, equivalent to 11.7 million older people, agree that corridor care is undignified and unsafe. 

• 79% believe patients should never be cared for in corridors under any circumstances. 

Staffing pressures were also raised. Evidence from the Royal College of Nursing shows that two‑thirds of nursing staff now deliver care in inappropriate settings every day, with 91% of A&E nurses saying patient care and safety is being compromised. 

Mark Rounding, Chief Executive at Age UK Bradford District, said: 

“We welcomed the opportunity to brief MPs and Ministers this week, but what’s happening to some very ill older people in A&E remains a crisis hiding in plain sight. No one should have to spend hours, or even days, in a hospital corridor without dignity, privacy or proper care. It is truly shocking that this is now a daily reality for some of our oldest residents. 

“Corridor care and excessive A&E waits are eroding trust in the NHS and placing intolerable strain on both patients and staff. The solutions exist, but what’s needed now is determined leadership from Government to set a clear timetable, drive improvement, and bring this practice to an end.” 

Following the briefing, Age UK Bradford District is calling on the Government to: 

• Publish an urgent, fully funded operational plan with clear milestones to reduce long A&E waits and end corridor care. 

• Introduce transparent, regular reporting on corridor care and long waits, including data broken down by age and ethnicity. 

• Appoint a named Minister accountable for reducing A&E waits and ending corridor care, with six‑monthly progress reports to Parliament. 

• Accelerate shared learning between hospitals and Integrated Care Boards to improve patient flow and support NHS staff. 

• Deliver the 10‑Year Health Plan at pace, strengthening social care, community health services and voluntary sector support so fewer older people reach crisis point. 

Age UK Bradford District will continue to work constructively with political leaders of all parties to ensure older people receive the safe, dignified care they deserve.