More than 4,500 patients died due to crowding and 12 hour waits in emergency departments, a report has said.
A Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) report said it investigated the extent of harm that crowding causes and applied NHSE’s own findings from the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme which found that one in 67 patients staying in the Emergency Department for 12 hours come to excess harm.
The report titled 'Crowding and its Consequences' found that at least 4,519 patients have died as a result of crowding and 12 hour stays in Emergency Departments in England in 2020-2021.
Dr Adrian Boyle, Vice President (Policy) of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: "To say this figure (4,519 excess deaths) is shocking is an understatement. Quite simply, crowding kills.
Has someone you know been harmed by overcrowding in hospitals? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk to tell your story
"For many years we have issued warnings about the harm that dangerous crowding causes, but now we can see the number of excess deaths that have occurred as a result.
“October 2021 saw an unimaginable 7,059 12-hour stays from decision to admit, the highest number ever recorded, 40% higher than September 2021 which was the previous highest on record.
"The number of 12-hour stays has risen drastically for six months and is very likely to rise again in coming months.
The statement added: “The situation is unacceptable, unsustainable and unsafe for patients and staff. Political and health leaders must realise that if performance continues to fall this winter: more and more patients will come to avoidable harm in the Emergency Department; staff will face moral injury; and the urgent and emergency care system will be deep into the worst crisis it has faced."
An NHS spokesperson said: “NHS staff have gone above and beyond over the last 18 months treating 500,000 seriously ill covid inpatients and as most recent data shows, they also contended with the busiest October ever for major A&Es and for life-threatening ambulance call outs in a single month.
“As set out in our 10 point plan, the NHS is maximising the availability of urgent care services to provide alternatives to A&E so anyone who needs care should come forward through NHS 111 Online so staff can help sign post you to the best option for you.”
The Mirror has contacted the Department of Health and Social Care for comment.
This comes after leading health experts warned the NHS was said to be "on its knees" due to chronic staff shortages and millions of people waiting for treatment.
The King's Fund health think tank said staff are exhausted from the coronavirus pandemic and patients needing treatment have to wait much longer than usual.
