24 October 2025
Emergency Departments across Wales are on track to endure yet another ‘incredibly tough winter’.
That’s the warning from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) as new data, published yesterday (23 October 2025) by the Welsh government revealed last month was the second worst September for Emergency Department performance since records began in 2009 for patients experiencing extremely long waits.
A quarter of people (25%) waited more than eight hours in major EDs, and more than one in seven patients waited 12 hours or longer.
Compared to September 2018, the numbers waiting four hours or more increased by nearly double, the numbers waiting eight hours or more have more than doubled, and the numbers waiting 12 hours or more have nearly tripled. This is despite attendance being 0.2% lower.
The data comes as the Welsh government announced its winter plan earlier this month.
In response, RCEM Wales said winter preparations must be ramped up further to prevent Emergency Departments from being overwhelmed.
RCEM Vice President for Wales Dr Rob Perry said: “All the signs are pointing towards an incredibly tough winter ahead.
“Thousands of people endured unacceptable long waits, often on trolleys in corridors or any available floor space, last month. And I worry how many more will experience extreme waits during the colder months.
“The Welsh government must not neglect this crisis and focus on addressing delayed discharges and lack of social care provision.
“The stakes are incredibly high and the safety of patients is at risk as long as conditions in EDs remain like this.”