英國國民保健署（NHS England）報告稱，緊急服務的需求量創下歷史新高。
NHS England reports record-high demand for emergency services
Updated at: June 18, 2026 at 06:15 AM
英國國民健康服務體系（NHS）目前正面臨空前的挑戰，急診與緊急護理的需求正達到史無前例的高峰。
NHS England is currently facing an unprecedented challenge as demand for urgent and emergency care reaches record highs.
截至2026年6月，急診部與救護車服務所管理的病患量持續超過往年的季節性趨勢。
As of June 2026, A&E departments and ambulance services are managing patient volumes that consistently exceed previous seasonal trends.
效能指標反映了這種壓力；目前大型急診部約有36%的病患等候住院或出院的時間超過四小時的標準。
Performance metrics reflect this strain; approximately 36% of patients in major A&E departments are now waiting longer than the four-hour standard for admission or discharge.
專家將此危機歸咎於系統性問題，而非突發的病患激增。
Experts attribute this crisis to systemic issues rather than a sudden surge in patients.
主要因素是「病床佔用」（bed-blocking），即醫學上已達到出院標準的病患，因缺乏必要的社會照護支援而滯留在醫院，導致無法騰出床位收治新病患。
A primary factor is 'bed-blocking,' where medically fit patients remain in hospitals because they lack necessary social care support, preventing new admissions.
此外，基層醫療服務取得困難，使許多民眾在面臨非緊急狀況時選擇向急診部求助。
Furthermore, challenges in accessing primary care lead many to seek help at A&E for non-urgent issues.
人口老齡化帶來複雜的健康需求，加上醫護人員過勞及空缺，持續使資源極度緊繃。
An ageing population with complex health needs, combined with staff burnout and vacancies, continues to stretch resources thin.
目前，各項策略正致力於強化院外護理，例如遠距離病房（virtual wards），並改善病患流程，以確保緊急服務能在壓力重重的情況下依舊有效運作。
Strategies are now focusing on enhancing out-of-hospital care, such as virtual wards, and improving patient flow to ensure that emergency services can operate effectively despite the mounting pressures.
