Over time: older patients are waiting longer

The elderly are forced to wait longer to be treated in accident and emergency departments than younger patients, it was claimed on Wednesday.

According to the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales, elderly patients wait an average of 90 minutes longer to be seen than their younger counterparts.

The study, conducted in over 200 casualty units, found that those over 60 waited an average of four hours and 34 minutes to be seen, whilst those under 60 were seen in two hours and 51 minutes. Those aged between 16 and 39 waited just two hours and 50 minutes on average, the survey found.

The report does not say why elderly patients are being forced to wait longer to be treated, but suggests the figures should be "a cause for serious concern".

Donna Covey, the association's director, said: "It's not clear why older people are spending so much more time in A and E departments than younger patients. In some circumstances it may be that there are good clinical reasons, but factors such as a lack of places in nursing homes, transportation problems or problems with social service provision may also be causing unnecessarily long waits."

Covey has called for an investigation into the issue whilst Help the Aged has called on ministers to address the disparity in waiting times as "a matter of urgency."