Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the findings in the Royal College of Emergency Medicine report (June 2026) estimating that 15,860 excess deaths in England in 2025 were associated with long waits in emergency departments before admission.

The Government recognises the serious concerns raised by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) and is committed to reducing long waits and improving patient safety across urgent and emergency care. This includes providing targeted support to trusts most affected by corridor care, expanding urgent treatment centre and same day emergency care capacity, improving patient flow and discharge, and working to eradicate corridor care by the end of this Parliament.