00:00Overcrowded A&E departments may be linked to hundreds of deaths weekly, according to new research.
00:07A study of more than 19,000 patients at 134 emergency departments found that each 10% rise in occupancy
00:17was associated with a 1% increase in the risk of death within 28 days.
00:23Departments were operating at an average of 175% occupancy.
00:28Researchers estimate overcrowding may have contributed to 550 deaths a week across England, Wales and Northern Ireland,
00:37but stress the study was small.
00:40The government says it is taking action to reduce overcrowding.
