RCEM urges action as long hospital stays reach worst levels this winter.
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) has reiterated its calls for meaningful long-term action as data released by NHS England show some of the worst weekly records seen so far this winter.
Weekly winter situation report data show that in the week ending 1 February, 30,298 patients stayed in hospital for over 14 days – the highest number so far this winter and the highest it has been since week 9 of 2022/23.
In another unwanted record, 19,285 patients stayed 21 days or more – again, the highest this winter so far and the highest since week 10 of 2024/2025.
The number of beds occupied by patients with Norovirus was also among the worst on record this winter, but ambulance handover times remain stable with one in three handovers taking 30 minutes or more – the same as the previous week.
Dr Ian Higginson, RCEM President, said: “These alarming NHSE statistics show the toll winter is taking on both patients and staff – and how vital it is that the government affords equal focus on what happens to patients when they need to come into hospital, rather than relying on efforts to stop them coming there as the only line of attack.
“Long ambulance handover delays, rising long stays, and delayed discharges are symptoms of the same system failure.
“These issues cannot be solved without looking at the whole picture, and without plans designed to have long term impacts.
“It’s essential that the government works in partnership with NHS leaders and frontline clinicians to design sustainable solutions, and ensure policies intended to reduce bed occupancy and support safer care.
“It is also vital that our Emergency Department (ED) staff are supported in their daily work, given that rates of absence have also increased, with 51,588 staff off each day on average.
“Fewer staff makes operating conditions more difficult creating a vicious circle – we call on the government to do everything it can to support them and enable them to deliver the level of care that they would want and which patients deserve.”
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