The NHS is not ready for winter, top A&E doctors warn: ‘We can’t tell where one crisis ends and the next begins’

A&E doctors in the United Kingdom have issued warnings that patients could face a "perfect storm" this winter, with some already dying unnecessarily every week. Over 150 leading front-line doctors expressed deep concern about the mounting pressure on Emergency Departments (EDs), which are already struggling with severe overcrowding and long waits for treatment. According to a survey conducted by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), 91 per cent of the 163 ED clinical leads surveyed said they were either "very" or "extremely" concerned about the challenges their departments would face during the winter months. Only three per cent believed they were "well prepared" for the colder season. The survey revealed that 92 per cent of respondents described current ED pressure as "high" or "very high," and 88 per cent noted that the strain on their departments was greater than it was a year ago. The RCEM called for urgent action from the government, stating that the current measures in place would not be sufficient to prevent a worsening situation. Despite a recent £140 million investment aimed at easing winter pressures through new urgent care schemes, including additional ambulance fleets and upgraded emergency departments, the college argued that funds are not being allocated effectively. Dr Ian Higginson, president of the RCEM, highlighted the dire conditions within A&E units, noting that patients often remain in corridors or on chairs for extended periods. He stated that the sickest and most injured individuals frequently cannot secure a hospital bed and may stay in the department for several days. This situation, he claimed, has led to unnecessary deaths and represents a "disgraceful state of affairs." The survey also indicated that around two-thirds of the responding doctors felt their departments were unsafe for patients. With the UK experiencing a higher incidence of flu cases compared to previous years and a reduction in available hospital beds, nearly 1,000 fewer than last year, the outlook for the upcoming winter appears grim. Dr Den Langhor, emergency care lead for the British Medical Association, echoed concerns about the ongoing stress on emergency services, emphasizing that the pressures faced by A&E departments are no longer seasonal but continuous. Recent statistics showed that the average number of patients waiting more than 12 hours in A&E rose significantly in the summer, reaching 149,583 between June and August, compared to 126,511 in 2025 and 129,646 in 2024. As the winter approaches, the RCEM urged governments across the UK to take immediate steps to address the growing crisis, stressing that existing preparations would likely result in the same disastrous outcomes as in previous years. The organization emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms to ensure patient safety and adequate resources for healthcare providers during the critical winter period.