22 May 2025
The significant impact of extreme waiting times that patients are enduring in A&E was highlighted by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine at the launch event of the new All Party Parliamentary Group on Emergency Care.
The event, held last week (15 May 2025) in the Thames Pavilion at the House of Commons, was jointly hosted by the College, which is providing secretariat support for the APPG, and the group’s chair Dr Rosena Allin-Khan – herself an Emergency Medicine doctor.
Politicians, including former Health Secretary and Conservative MP Sir Jeremy Hunt, who is the APPG’s Vice-Chair, attended the launch event, alongside health sector leaders, to discuss the mounting challenges facing Urgent and Emergency Care, as well as solutions to the crisis.
In her opening address, Dr Allin-Khan emphasised that the informal cross-party group of parliamentarians, will conduct inquiries into the UEC system, while engaging with healthcare professionals and organisations, to put pressure on the government to resuscitate emergency care.
It comes as RCEM announced new analysis, revealing there were more than 16,600 deaths associated with long A&E waits before admission in England last year – up 20% compared to 2023.
Dr Adrian Boyle, RCEM’s President, took to the podium to explain the methodology behind the data, and how it only applies to those waiting for an in-patient bed to become available – meaning the scale of deaths linked to long stays could be much worse.
Meanwhile, Francesca Cavallaro from the Health Foundation was invited to speak about the level of pressure Emergency Departments faced last winter, and Rachel Power, CEO of the Patient’s Association, shared first-hand accounts from people who had endured long waits in EDs.
Reflecting on event, Dr Boyle said, “It was an honour to invite a range of people from across the political spectrum – from MPs to Peers – and health sector leaders, to the launch of the APPG which comes at a critical time for the speciality.
“To put it bluntly, more people are dying because of a system in crisis. These are avoidable deaths, linked to extreme long stays in ED.
“It’s time Emergency Departments, patients, and the workforce, becomes a political priority and through the APPG, we will explore ways to resuscitate Emergency Care.
“We look forward to the inaugural meeting of the APPG in the coming months and sharing updates with our members, their colleagues, and the wider health community as the APPG gets underway.”
Dr Allin-Khan said “I was proud and honoured to launch the APPG on Emergency Care as its inaugural Chair. It was fantastic to see Parliamentarians of all political stripes, as well as leaders in the field of Emergency Medicine and the wider health sector, gather together in one room to share expertise.
“This group could not come at a more critical time, with the stark figures released by the Royal College recently painting a sobering picture of the state of our Emergency Departments. I see it every time I do a shift in my local A&E – staff are overworked and resources stretched thin, with patients feeling this acutely as a result.
“We will work constructively with the Government and industry experts to find solutions to bring waiting times down, reduce excess deaths, and ensure everyone gets the care they need when they need it.”
