Friday 25 July 2025
Despite the warmer weather, Emergency Departments across Wales are under strain as new data reveals a record number of people waited more than four hours last month.
The latest performance data released yesterday (24 July 2025) reveals almost 1 in 2 patients (31,701) waited four hours or longer to be admitted, transferred or discharged from major EDs in June.
That’s despite a lower number of attendances compared to the previous month.
In Wales, the target is that 95% of patients should be seen, discharged, or admitted within four hours. Last month, it was 53.2%.
The figures, released by the Welsh Government, also revealed nearly one in four patients (16,622) waited eight hours or longer.
Meanwhile, almost one in six patients (10,124) endured a wait of 12 hours or more.
That’s 15% of attendances – the same percentage when compared to May and 3.5 times higher than the same month in 2018 (6,239).
Dr Rob Perry, RCEM Vice President for Wales, said: “Summer months no longer give any respite from the pressures we experience in our Emergency Departments over winter: We remain under significant strain throughout the year.
“People are lining our corridors, on trolleys, watching the clock tick by, often waiting for an elusive in-patient bed to become available.
“And while four-hour waits are inconvenient, we know extreme waits are undignified and dangerous for our patients.
“These figures should sound alarm for the Welsh government. Increasing capacity and flow throughout our hospitals needs to be at the top of their agenda.
“If this is where we are in summer – I am concerned about what we will be facing this winter.”