Patients at Croydon University Hospital are still facing lengthy delays in A&E, with the latest NHS figures showing 601 people waited more than 12 hours for a bed in June 2026.
The hospital’s A&E also fell short of the national four-hour standard, with just 61.3% of patients seen, treated, admitted or discharged within that time last month. NHS England’s standard is 78% for four-hour performance, although Croydon’s rate remains well below that benchmark.
The figures come after the Care Quality Commission rated the emergency department “Requires Improvement” following a surprise inspection that found overcrowding, corridor care and lengthy delays putting patients at risk. Inspectors said some patients had spent between 34 and 127 hours in A&E, while the trust remained in breach of legal regulations around privacy and dignity.
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust has said it continues to face “sustained and significant pressure”, with difficulties moving patients through the hospital and delays in discharge contributing to the backlog. The trust has also pointed to wider system pressures affecting emergency care across south London.
Earlier data cited by the Local Democracy Reporting Service showed the average total time spent in Croydon A&E rose from 257 minutes in 2021 to 390 minutes in 2025, an increase of 51.8%.
