More than 23,000 people died in A&E last year, researchers claim

MORE than 23,000 people died in A&E last year, researchers claim.

Official figures show there were 11,658 deaths in casualty at 61 NHS trusts in 2022.

So the total for all 122 trusts in England could be double.

Labour released the analysis and Sir Keir Starmer will pledge on Monday to end record A&E delays if he wins the next election.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: “People turning to the NHS in an emergency should know they will be seen and treated before it’s too late.

“The Conservatives’ failure over 13 years to properly staff or reform the NHS has a cost in lives.”

The 11,658 figure is well up on the 9,561 at the same 61 trusts in 2021, and fewer than 9,000 per year pre-pandemic.

In February, a report by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine said thousands of excess deaths were linked to 12-hour A&E delays last year.

And this week a former nurse told how departments are so busy that patients have to sit on the floor.

Health minister Maria Caulfield insisted waiting lists are being cut, and claimed: “The NHS is worse where Labour are in power.”