1670 NHS patients in Epsom waited more than 12-hours in A&E last month, as Maguire warns Government is “asleep at the wheel”

In Epsom, Ewell, Ashtead and Leatherhead, people waited 12 hours or longer for A&E treatment a shocking 1670 times in December.

The shocking figures mean over 13% of patients in Epsom and Ewell are waiting more than 12 hours for help.

Epsom & Ewell MP Helen Maguire strongly condemned the Government just last month over its decision to abandon its pledge to see, admit or discharge 95% of A&E patients within four hours by the end of this Parliament - referring to the move as a “staggering lack of ambition” and an “insult to patients”.

St Helier Hospital is already under severe pressure with unacceptable facilities - including windows being held together with tape, sinking floors, and broken lifts, whilst the Prime Minister recently visited Epsom Hospital.

Maguire, has joined in with calls on the Health Secretary to come forward with an emergency plan to rescue Epsom and Ewell A&Es from this crisis and protect patients who are suffering as a result of these long and dangerous delays. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) has previously said that long waits in A&E are estimated to have contributed to 14,000 deaths in 2023.

Helen Maguire, MP for Epsom and Ewell says:

“The A&E crisis is becoming simply unacceptable. This is now the second time in a matter of weeks that the terrifying conditions my constituents regularly face.” 

“It is terrifying to think that my constituents regularly suffer these dangerously long delays at a time of emergency.”

“The government is falling asleep at the wheel and they’ve already backtracked on their four hour A&E pledge.”

“In many cases, getting seen quickly is a matter of life and death. ”