A new report reveals that patients in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, are facing long waits and receiving treatment in corridors as emergency services struggle to keep up with demand. The patient watchdog Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough published the findings on February 12, 2026. The group, led by CEO Julian Stanley, highlighted the emotional toll on those waiting for urgent care when hospital resources are stretched to the limit.
The report describes how people are being cared for in non-clinical spaces like chairs, trolleys, and even equipment cupboards. While some patients nationally have reported waiting over 24 hours in corridors for a bed, the local findings emphasize that these conditions can compromise the safety and dignity of people seeking help during a medical crisis.
These delays at the hospital often lead to ambulance stacking, where paramedics must stay with patients in corridors instead of responding to new 999 calls. This situation puts extra pressure on the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which is led by CEO Hannah Coffey. The trust has historically seen nearly half of all ambulance handovers take longer than the standard 30-minute target, which directly extends response times for the local community.
The local crisis follows a record-breaking winter where more than 2.3 million people across England sought help at emergency departments in December 2025. Out of those visitors, more than 400,000 people were admitted to the hospital, adding further pressure to already busy wards. These national figures reflect the high demand that has impacted services at Peterborough City Hospital.
Members of the public are invited to hear how health leaders plan to address these persistent performance failures at an upcoming public meeting. A Council of Governors meeting will take place at Hinchingbrooke Hospital on February 17, 2026, to discuss the current situation. This session will allow the trust to review the challenges facing urgent care and ambulance handover times.
