Commenting on Labour Party data which showed some patients waited up to 10 days in A&E in parts of England over the last year, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said:
“This data is yet more evidence of the appalling situation in urgent and emergency care. These patients are suffering significant harm and some early deaths as a result.
“These are mainly acute medical patients who should be in beds not languishing in undignified corridors in emergency departments and acute medical units. Acute medical doctors are having to examine and treat these patients in corridors, often having difficult conversations.
“This really is a scandal and should be treated as as an emergency. A sustainable plan to resolve this crisis immediately post election is essential.”