Who is affected?

A&E waiting rooms are chaotic, overcrowded, and unpredictable, making them inaccessible for many people. Those with autism, anxiety, PTSD, chronic pain, mobility issues, impaired hearing or speech difficulties struggle to cope with the uncertainty and stress of waiting for hours without clear communication. Many feel trapped in a cycle of distress—unable to leave for a break, yet overwhelmed by their environment. For some, the stress becomes so unbearable that they leave untreated, putting their health at serious risk.

This system is a simple, realistic fix because it’s based on a fixed process in every A&E: staff always know who is next to be seen. Unlike wait time estimates, which are inconsistent and difficult to implement, this solution can be rolled out nationwide without major NHS changes—providing a low-cost, high-impact accessibility improvement for all patients.

What is at stake?

If nothing changes, people will continue to suffer unnecessarily, avoid seeking medical care, or leave A&E before receiving the treatment they need. This could lead to worsening conditions, preventable hospital admissions, and even life-threatening consequences. Those most affected—neurodivergent individuals, those with severe anxiety, chronic pain patients, and people with speech difficulties—will continue to be excluded from a system that should be accessible to everyone.

But if we introduce a simple text notification system that alerts patients when they are next to be called in A&E waiting areas—this problem can be solved.

A proposed text message along the lines of:

“You are next to be called. If you are not in the waiting area, please return now to ensure you are seen.”

…could make a world of difference. 

This system would allow patients to step outside, find a quieter space, or move around without fear of missing their turn, making the waiting experience more accessible and less distressing.

What is the solution?

This isn’t about live queue tracking or giving people exact wait times—that would be unrealistic in a busy emergency setting.

This is about creating a simple, opt-in notification system—either by text or via the NHS app—to let patients know when they’re about to be called, especially during that long waiting period after triage and early tests like bloods or X-rays.

It’s designed for people who are stable but waiting for the next available doctor. It would give them the ability to:

• Step outside

• Sit somewhere less crowded

• Use the toilet

• Wait in their car

• Stretch their legs

…without the fear of missing their name.

It’s a small but meaningful way to make A&E more accessible—not just for disabled or chronically ill patients, but for anyone who finds themselves stuck in that limbo window.

It could also be integrated with the NHS app, which the NHS is already encouraging people to use for things like prescriptions and appointment tracking. Adding this feature would give people a new reason to keep the app downloaded and reduce the need for SMS—making it more cost-effective.

Although this petition is specifically calling on NHS England to implement the system, it could eventually pave the way for similar improvements in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland if the benefits are clear.

Sign this petition today to support a simple, low-cost change that could have a huge impact on A&E accessibility.