Corridor care in the NHS has become a year-round emergency, experts warn, as new figures reveal nearly 3 million patients attended A&E in just the first two months of summer. NHS data analysed by the Liberal Democrats shows that attendances in June and July 2025 reached 2.9 million — a 15% increase compared with 2015 and the highest level in a decade.
The analysis highlights a dramatic rise in 12-hour trolley waits. In June 2015, just 47 patients waited 12 hours or more to be admitted. But in June 2025 alone, 38,683 patients — 7.2% of all A&E attendances — faced such waits. Across June and July, a total of 74,150 people, an average of 1,216 per day, were left waiting at least 12 hours.
Some NHS trusts reported even higher figures. At Epsom and St Helier, nearly half of patients experienced waits of 12 hours or more (42% in June, 45% in July). At Warrington and Halton, the figures were 48% in June and 30% in July.
Experts warn of “permacrisis” in the NHS
Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for health and social care, said the NHS is stuck in a state of “permacrisis.”
“What was once a winter crisis has become a year-round disaster, with families watching helplessly as loved ones are left in agony on trolleys in A&E corridors,” she said.
The Lib Dems are calling for a “winter emergency package” including higher flu vaccine uptake, better access to pharmacies, and a GP recruitment drive to ease the pressure on emergency departments.
Emergency doctors fear winter surge
Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said there is “no such thing as a summer respite anymore” in the NHS.
“If this is the level of demand we are experiencing now, what will winter look like?” he asked. Boyle urged the government to expand bed capacity and support hospital discharge to reduce pressure on A&Es.
Patricia Marquis of the Royal College of Nursing added that soaring 12-hour waits show corridor care has become the “new normal.” She warned that overcrowding has forced patients into “corridors, cupboards, and waiting rooms,” undermining dignity and safety.
Government response and investment plans
The Department of Health and Social Care defended its record, saying A&E waits are improving despite increased demand. A spokesperson said nearly £450m has been invested in urgent and emergency care, including 500 new ambulances, more same-day emergency care services, and additional mental health crisis centres.
However, medical leaders insist more urgent action is needed to prevent worsening scenes this winter, with fears of rising seasonal illness pushing the NHS into even deeper crisis.
