Croydon A&E waits rise 52% as CQC rates service 'Requires Improvement'

Patients at Croydon University Hospital’s accident and emergency department are spending significantly longer in care than four years ago. Data obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service shows the average wait rose by 51.8% between 2021 and 2025. In 2021, patients spent 257 minutes in A&E. By 2025, that figure reached 390 minutes.

The increase coincides with a rise in attendances. Annual visits climbed from 133,611 in 2021 to 155,245 in 2025, a 16.2% increase. Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, which runs the Mayday Road facility, said demand for urgent and emergency care has grown across the NHS in recent years.

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Croydon A&E waits rise 52% since 2021 as CQC flags care risks

Patients at Croydon University Hospital now spend an average of 390 minutes in A&E, up from 257 minutes four years ago

Why waits are getting longer

The Trust told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that longer stays result from two pressures. More patients arrive with complex needs. At the same time, delays in discharging patients and limited inpatient beds slow the flow of patients through the department.

Despite the strain, triage nurses have reduced the time patients wait for an initial assessment. The average fell from 8.2 minutes in 2021 to 6.6 minutes in 2025, a 19.4% improvement. The Trust said it is implementing measures to improve patient flow, including expanding Same Day Emergency Care and frailty services.

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CQC inspection finds waits up to five days

The Care Quality Commission rated Croydon University Hospital’s A&E department 'Requires Improvement' in June 2026. Inspectors visited unannounced in March and found patients waited between 34 and over 127 hours. The longest waits exceeded five days.

Adults in mental health crisis faced the longest delays. Some were left in environments that risked worsening their condition. Inspectors also criticised the routine use of 'corridor care', where doctors discuss diagnoses in areas without privacy. Mandatory safeguarding training in the department fell below the Trust’s 90% target.

The CQC noted positive feedback from patients. Eighty-nine percent said they were treated with respect and dignity. Ninety-five percent said they felt listened to by doctors and nurses.

Councillors call for system-wide change

Labour councillors for West Thornton, where the hospital is located, said the figures reflect what residents have reported for years. Councillors Janet Campbell, Rym Daoud and Stuart King told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that pressure extends beyond the hospital. Roads, parking and public transport in the area are increasingly congested, particularly at peak times.

These figures highlight pressures across the entire health and care system rather than simply within the hospital itself.

Janet Campbell, Rym Daoud and Stuart King, West Thornton Labour councillors

The councillors argued that expanding the A&E facility alone will not solve the problem. They called for a more integrated health and care system with greater investment in social care, community mental health services and prevention. Lasting improvement, they said, requires addressing housing and poverty, not just NHS capacity.

What happens next

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust said it continues to invest in workforce development, digital technology and service transformation. Residents can share feedback with the Trust or respond to the CQC report through the regulator’s website. The next formal inspection date is unclear.