Preventable deaths of almost 16,000 patients last year in A&E in England

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) published *The State of Emergency Medicine in England* on June 8, 2026, revealing that 15,860 patients died in NHS Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments in 2025—around 1,300 monthly—due to delays in timely treatment. The report highlights a tenfold increase in preventable deaths since 2015, with mortality rising despite a slight decrease from 16,644 in 2024. The RCEM attributes the crisis to systemic failures, including bed shortages (93.1% occupancy), severe staff shortages (60% of clinical leads describe departments as understaffed, 20% as severely understaffed), and an inability to discharge patients. On average, 12,906 patients per day were medically fit for discharge but remained hospitalized, often due to collapsed social care provisions. The report also exposes the practice of 'corridor care,' where patients are treated in unsafe spaces like corridors, toilets, and repurposed areas. A 2025 UNCORKED study found one in five patients received care in spaces not designed for clinical use, compromising privacy, dignity, and safety. Staff described working conditions as 'inhumane,' with 97% of clinical leads calling the situation unsustainable long-term and 44% saying it is already unsustainable short-term. The RCEM demanded urgent action from the Starmer government, questioning why the crisis lacks political focus. The Department of Health and Social Care responded by announcing £215 million for 40 new same-day emergency care centers, a measure critics argue fails to address life-threatening delays in A&E. The report underscores a broader collapse in NHS emergency care, with preventable deaths linked to prolonged waits and systemic resource failures.