Enter and view: Warrington and Halton Hospital A&E

Healthwatch Warrington and Healthwatch Halton undertook an announced enter and view visit to Warrington and Halton Hospital A&E department on 29 October 2025. They spoke to 8 people.

Warrington Hospital’s A&E was observed operating under sustained and significant pressure, with demand outstripping physical capacity and staff numbers. Patients were typically triaged quickly, but many then waited long periods for medical review, diagnostics, results and admission. Communication gaps were a persistent theme: people frequently did not know how long they would be waiting, received conflicting information about next steps, or were unaware that they needed to request pain relief and could access refreshments. 

Corridor care helped to create capacity but compromised privacy, dignity and access to basic safety features. The physical environment shows signs of wear and tear; seating and toilets require timely maintenance, and visual information needs to be clearer and more accessible. Staff were generally praised for their professionalism and kindness, particularly during the day. Some concerns were raised about aspects of night-time practice, responsiveness and noise.

 The service is clearly impacted by hospital-wide flow constraints, with exit block from wards contributing to long A&E stays. The department’s leadership was open and constructive during our visit and outlined governance mechanisms such as multiple daily bed meetings and escalation routes; however, the persistence of very long waits suggests that system-level actions beyond A&E will also be required.