High A&E wait times in England led to deaths

In 2023, an estimated 13,919 people died in England due to excessive waits in A&E, with 1.5 million patients waiting 12+ hours for a bed. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine found a direct correlation between delays and mortality rates, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention to improve patient care. NHS data shows a 70.9% four-hour access standard performance in March, below the 76% target.