Government promises quicker A&E times under plan to help end corridor care

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By Jane Kirby, PA Media and Erin Dean

Long A&E waits should be reduced for 800,000 patients a month as part of plans which aim to “eliminate corridor care” in England, the government has pledged.

Nearly £450 million will be spent on new urgent and emergency care facilities to provide faster care for patients, according to the Department of Health and NHS England.

This includes 40 new same day emergency care and urgent treatment to treat and discharge patients the same day.

The Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for England also said there would be 15 mental health crisis assessment centres, which are designed to ensure mentally ill people do not have to wait in A&E for hours for care.

The plan will lead to “over 800,000 fewer people a month waiting more than 4 hours in A&E”, the government said.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) said there was “good and bad” in the new plan.